KISLEV, 5739 I DEC. 1978 .. VOLUME Xlll, NUMBER 7 THE Ew. IS H $1.25

in this issue Go Ius In A Free Society The Awareness Imperative The Stumbling Blocks

also:

The Bereaved Jew's Bill of Rights Thoughts j by the late GERRER , ~"~T i Tiktin 1 i I I Letters to the Editor I i' ·1I THE JEWISH BSERVER

THE JEWISH OBSERVER;, pub­ lished monthly, except July and in this issue August, by the Agudath lsrae\ of America, S Beekman Street, NPw York, N.Y. 10038. Second class Golus in a Free Society postage paid at New York. N.Y. Subscription: $9.00 per year; two The Awareness Imperative, ...... 4 years, $17.50; three years, $25.00: The Stumbling Blocks, Aaron Twerski...... 6 outside of the United States, $9.SO The Bereaved Jew's Bill of Rights, Bernard Fryshman ...... 9 per year. Single copy, $1.25. Chanukah Gems, Rabbi Nasson Scherman...... 13 Printed in the U.S.A. Tiktin, Chaim Shapiro...... 17 Books in Review RABBI NISSON WOLPIN Challenge of Sinai ...... 25 Editor The Book of Ezekiel ...... 27 Chanukah Crafts ...... 29 Second Looks at the Jewish Scene Editorial Board A Dirge For Shabbos in Boro Park ...... 30 DR ERNST L BODENHEIMER Chairman The Nobel Laureate: Not Our Lyrics, Not Our Singer...... 33 RABBI NATHAN BULMAN Letters to the Editor RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS Bombing Aushwitz/Yissachor-Zevulun/The Religious Compulsive .35 JOSEPH fRIEDENSON RABBI MOSHE SHERER A Poem, Avrohom Yishayahu Rotbard ...... 42

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Copyright 1978

DEC., 1978 VOL XIII, NO. 7 Typography by SoloGraphic Photocomposition Service Experiencing Golus in a Free Society­ Can it be Achieved? While the blessings of living in a free society are many and not to be gainsaid, there are inevitable dif­ ficulties this poses to the Torah Jew. Among them is the difficulty it brings to experiencing the feeling of golus required of every Jew, wherever he may be. RABBI YAAKOV WEINBERG, W'ti'71V, Rosh in Ner -, presented an anlysis of this theme at the recent national convention of Agudath Israel of America. "The Awareness Imperative," which follows, is based on Rabbi Weinberg's address. DR. AARON TWERSKI, a musmach of Yeshiva Ner Israel, currently a professor of law at Hofstra University in Long Island, NY, also addressed this theme at the convention. "The Stumbling Blocks," which follows Rabbi Weinberg's article is based on his presentation. Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg

Experiencing Golus in a Free Society-Can it be Achieved?

The Awareness Imperative

"Experiencing Golus in Freedom-ls it Possible?" have G-d's guarantee that we will remain a people, could be paraphrased to express the real question: which perforce means that we will always know that we "Survival of Kial Yisroel in Freedom-Is it Possible?" are in golus. Indeed, the world is full of reminders to us because recognition of Go/us and Kial Yisroel's ex· regarding our golus status. But should we fail to take istence are one and the same, for Klal Yisroel cannot ex­ cognizance of these reminders, G-d has ample means at ist unless it is aware that it is in Golus. This is not mere­ His disposal to remind us .. , May we be spared their ly an option. It is a halachic reality, as the Ram ham ex­ harshness. presses it in the "Thirteen Ikrim." By definition, each Rabbi Meir Simcha Hakohein of Dvinsk, in his sefer, of these lkrim-basic concepts of belief-must be un· Meshech Chochma (Sidra Behar), analyzes in frighten­ derstood and accepted by every Jew who wants to be a ing detail the means by which G-d reminds us that we Jew. It is not possible to be a Yisroel if one denies any are indeed in golus, if we fail to ascertain this fact for one of them: ourselves. (A translation of this discussion in the Obviously, one cannot be a Yisroel without accep­ Meshech Chochma was featured in JO-Sept. 73.) Maintaining this awareness is no simple achievement, tance of the Torah, as presented through Moshe ... If one does not know of the existence of G-d, obviously for it is a complex challenge consisting of two aspects: there is no way that he could have a share in Taras first, an awareness that our current status is not Moshe ... If one does not know that G-d gave us the representative of our optimum way of life; that as we Torah, he cannot have a share in Taras Moshe ... If are today here, we are totally uprooted, estranged from one is not aware of Reward and Punishment, he cannot the way in which a Klal Yisroe/ is meant to live. The have a share in Taras Moshe. very essence of our existence is to be an Am Hashem (G-dly people), recognized as such by all, whose lives as The Rambam also includes belief in the advent of individuals and as a nation are totally imbued with Moshiach among hisThirteen Ikrim. Not only is it ax· Torah and Avodas Hashem (divine service). Here, in iomatic that a Jew believe and accept the truth, that G-d go/us, this can never be fulfilled in its entirety, and is going to send Moshiach to bring the Ge'u/ah, but if therefore we are not fully alive. circumstances delay his coming, he must anxiously The other aspects of go/us-equally difficult and await him. The requirement of this attitude is discussed equally essential-is that we Jews are not an integral in the Rambam's "Commentary on the Mishna" in part of the people amongst whom we live. There is an "Chelek" (Sanhedrin, Chapter Xi) and is also delineated "otherness" to us, a gulf of strangeness that cannot be in his halachic work, the Yad Chazaka: "Whoever does bridged, separating us from our compatriots. not believe in Moshiach or does not anxiously await his coming ... denies in the Torah of Moshe" (Hilchos The Y aakov Precedent Melachim: XI, I). The difficulty in maintaining both aspects of this The obvious implication of this is that if one does not awareness-that our lives are not complete in golus and know of the Coming of the Moshiach and does not anx· that we are different from those around us-is borne iously await its advent, he is not feeling go/us; and if out by an incident in the life of Yaakov Avinu. Let us one does not feel the pain of go/us-wherever he may be remember that Yaakov Avinu wa's capable of testifying -he is not a Yisroel. Stated positively, an awareness of regarding himself that in spite of living for twenty being in golus, recognizing the actuality of golus on the years with Lavan, the personification of falsehood and experiential level, is absolutely imperative to .cemaining evil, his ideology, faith, and character were not in the a part of Kial Yisroel. Thus, living in a free society is a least affected. (See in beginning of Vayishlach: direct threat to remaining within Kial Yisroel. We do "Garti .. . ").He was able to say, "I remained the same 4 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 true Eved Hashem as I was prior to my exposure to their values, or live their lives. You are not part of them. him." Nonetheless, Yaakov Avinu faced one more You are not in your proper place; while there, you are danger that was not so simply overcome. not living your lives." We must use these days as This is recorded in a few remarkable passages in the Chazal had meant them to be used-to rescue us from Chumash that speak of a complete shift in attitude this hazard. The purpose of these fast days is not just to between Y aakov and the sons of Lavan, and a change in fulfill the letter of the laws of taanis (fasting), but to use Yaakov's own self-understanding. Yaakov had been them as springboards for delving into their meaning. working for his father-in-law, Lavan, for two decades, The Tisha B'Av kinos(lamentations) that we say are when he also for the same purpose-to remind us that no matter heard the words of Lavan's sons, saying, how we may assume that we are part of a land, we are "Yaakov took all that belonged to our father . .. amass­ eventually expelled from it; that there is no way that we ing this great fortune from our father's belongings." can ever be other than exiles, wandering to and fro, un­ And Yaakov saw the face of Lavan, and it was not til the coming of Moshiach. the same as it was yesterday and the day before. Utilizing this one approach is part of a larger con­ And G-d spoke to Yaakov, "Return to the land of cern. It may sound like a cliche, but that does not make your fathers and to your birthplace, and I will be with it any less true. Keeping Tisha B'Av as it should be kept you," (Bereishes 1-3) is part of learning to do all the mitzvos as they should What a remarkable chain of events\ Yaakov hears be done. In order to experience a Tisha B'Av properly the sons of Lavan claim that all his attainment was and to use it as Chazal had designed it to be used, it is taken from them ... he recognizes that Lavan is no necessary also to eat in the Succah, for example, with an longer a friend ... and suddenly G-d tells him "Go out, understanding of being an Eved Hashem. Indeed, it is get back Eretz Yisroel." This sequence of events is no necessary to carry this understanding to the perfor­ simple coincidence. G-d will not be with him, and he mance of all mitzvos. cannot return to Eretz Yisroel until he recognizes that To achieve this, we must be lomdei Torah-Torah Lavan is not his friend. students-not only supporters of Torah, which is also The implication here is that this most outstanding in­ significant, but lomdei Torah ... And not only lomdei dividual regarding whom the Torah testifies "He lived Torah, but creators of batei Torah (Torah homes). If with Lavan, yet kept the 613 mitzvos"-this Yaakov our homes are perceived by our children, our Avinu who was not influenced in the least by the cor­ neighbors, our visitors as homes dedicated to Torah, ruption of Lavan and his community-was under the il­ with the hours in our homes not spent in front of a TV, lusion that while Lavan was deceitful and an incurable but with a sefer; if it is clear that our discretionary time cheat, he was still his friend and that they could co­ is not devoted to going out, shopping for luxuries, or in exist. It was not until he overheard the sons of Lavan pursuit of frivolity, but toward using every minute to saying otherwise that his eyes opened and he sit and study Torah and do mitzvos, then we have recognized the truth, that Lavan hates even Yaakov fashioned batei Torah, Our homes have become Avinu. And it is only when he recognized that he has mekomos of Torah-Torah institutions. And our no place in Lavan's country, that he had the command children grow up not only as machzike Torah, not only from G-d to return to Eretz Yisroel. Only then did G-d as lomdei Torah, but as ohavei Torah and mokirei say to him, "Now that you know that you are not one Torah-loving and appreciating Torah. They will know of them, and you cannot be with them, and there is no that when we speak of learning and we speak of the "~ ' bridge between you and them-you are 'other' and centrality of G-d and His Torah in our lives, we are not different-only than can I say Go back to Eretz being formal but we speak the contents of our heart. Yisroelr" They will know that the words we speak are not used As long as we are under the illusion that we can be lightly, but express reality; and they will understand identical to our fellow citizens, we cannot have the that the words their father and mother use are not Ge'ulah. words repeated because they had heard them once, but words that they live by, words that have the most The Methods of Awareness profound meaning to them, Then our children will How, then, do we overcome this incredible difficulty know that the reality of their existence is G-d and His that even challenged Yaakov Avinu? Our of Torah. Children who know this will surely understand blessed memory (Chazal) devised methods to remind us that to live in even the most free of societies is to live in constantly of our status, if only we would use them golus. And that to live in harmony with non-Torah properly. For what purpose did they establish fast days, values and approaches is to suffer agony, for it tears us ordaining the Seventeenth of Tamuz and Tisha B'Av as away from all that is the very essence of our existence- days of mourning, but to serve as constant reminders G-d and His Torah. that we are indeed in golus? To tell us that there is no Our goal then, must be that our homes truly reflect way that we can become totally assimilated in our this Emes, that we are G-d's people and thal from our adopted countries and to remind us: "Do not assume lives come glory and praise to our Creator. ~T.

The Jewish Observer I December 1978 5 Aaron Twerski

Experiencing Golus in a Free Society-C~n it be Achieved?

The Stumbling Blocks

Since the destruction of the Bais Hamikdosh the rab­ genuinely satisfies. In the complex and highly technical bis decreed that when a person builds his home ... and society in which we live, earning a livelihood is only finishes the interior in a royal fashion, he should leave one of the functions of work-establishing one's living near the doorway an unfinished space an amah al amah has become a second and perhaps more important goal. square.-, Orach Chaim, 560:1. And it is here that we stand in mortal danger of forget­ Achieving a sense of golus in a world of freedom is ting both our Torah obligations and the amah al amah extraordinarily difficult, for golus is not merely a set of that Chazal (the rabbis of blessed memory) mandate. observances but a state of mind. It demands from every I recently spent a day at one of the country's leading Jew not only a sense of estrangement from the secular law schools. I had just completed a manuscript on a world in which he lives but also a constant sense of un­ rather esoteric area of the law which I had sent to fulfilledness. After all, the halacha mandates that the several leading scholars for their comment. The brief one cubit to be left unfinished is not to be painted was a successful one, with several excellent insights black, but is to be left unfinished-incomplete. that led the professors to engage me in lengthy scholar­ In response to this unpainted amah al amah, I ques­ ly debate on the subject. I must confess to having tion, how are we to imbue ourselves with that sense of thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was personally lack of fulfillment in this world of freedom which rewarding and intellectually gratifying. When the day offers so much in the way of quasi-spiritual and was over I asked myself where had I been that day and materialistic fulfillment? Can we continue to give ex­ what had engaged my spirit. Had l abandoned the sense pression to the demands of golus while paying our dues of separateness and estrangement that is demanded of to the world of freedom? Finally, I question whether the golus Jew? Could l honestly say that for those hours even in the world of politics (indeed, non-Jewish in which my every fibre was devoted to matters of the politics) we have developed the proper golus intellect that l sensed the feeling of being unfulfilled weltanshauung. I submit that these questions are long and incomplete? I think not. overdue and that we air them with the intention of I fear that the answer is the same for most of us seeking guidance from Gedolei Yisroel. whatever our occupation. Is it enough that we sense golus from time to time? Does not the Shulchan Aruch demand that the amah al amah be located near the I. Galus Hanefesh-Spiritually Shackled doorway, to serve as a constant reminder of our status? A free society, willing to permit Jews easy entry At first glance, there seem few choices in the matter. through its portals, proffers substantial rewards. Often We do have to enter the world and deal with it. But the they are intoxicating and richly fulfilling. Too much so. options may be greater than we are ready to admit. It is Whether it be the scientist unravelling the mysteries of not necessary that ~ve pursue every avenue that offers the universe, the lawyer basking in the glory of a us satisfaction. There are articles that could have been brilliant brief, or a businessman putting together the left unwritten, experiments left undone, business ven­ financing for a complex deal, he experiences is a very tures not undertaken. Are we permitted the un­ real sipuk hanefesh-spiritual gratification-which diminished luxury of our careers? Can they coexist with

6 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 a genuine sense of golus? I do not profess to know the in its simplicity. It bears the imprimatur of the gedolei answers, but the questions trouble me greatly. Torah through the ages-including our own. The sen­ II. The Bondage into Luxury sitivity of Chazal to the inequalities of life, which stem Whatever the more subtle effects of spiritual from the unequal distribution of wealth, is legion. enslavement to psychological rewards, we are beset The Gemora (Mo'ed Kattan 27a) recounts the decrees with another less subtle and in a sense more imposed by Chazal to introduce uniformity to funeral devastating bondage. We have become enslaved to a practices, eliminating a number of practices that were life-style that is simply inconsistent with a golus men­ preferential to the wealthy. For example, wealthy tality. One can provoke laughter by merely making mourners had food served on trays of silver or gold, the mention of Baro Park chandeliers, or elaborate wedding poor in those made of woven reeds; the wealthy and bar mitzvah celebrations. But these are not mourners drank from goblets of clear glass, the poor laughing matters. There can be no pretense of golus from cloudy (flawed) glass .... The practices of the while partaking of an eight-course French-service wed­ poor were made the standard. ding dinner, preceded by a smorgasbord, capped with a • The Mishna records a similar decree: Viennese table. Tragically, it has affected us all, and On 15th Av and Yorn Kippur, Jewish daughters weddings are no longer simply occasions joyously stepped out in borrowed white garments so as not to signalling that we have had the zechus of bringing a shame those who had none (Taanis 26b). child to the chupah. For many, it has become an in­ • The Gemora explains" all Jews borrowed from one credible financial drain that enslaves them to bitter, another, so as not to shame those who did not own any hard work and golus endeavors for years on end. (ibid 31c)." Homes have become showpieces, which must sport • Later, in the 17th century, the Va'ad Le'arba dining room and bedroom sets that far exceed the Ha' aratzos (The Council of Four Lands) set forth clear means of the inhabitants. guidelines for expenditures for simchos. These decrees, I speak for hundreds and thousands of members of issued by the leaders of the four Polish provinces, were the Torah community who are trapped into a life-style designed to curb the excesses that had begun to take that is simply not Jewish and totally irreconcilable with hold, and moved to return Jewish life to its Torah our status as golus Jews. We want no part of the ex­ parameters. travaganzas that have become common fare, but we are • This past year, the Gerrer Rebbe set forth strict unable to pull out of it alone. No individual can face the rules for limiting expenditures at simchos, to restore scorn and approbium of a community for failing to uniformity and sanity to the traditional simcha she/ meet the minimum demands of Menschlichkeit. Never mitzvah. Indeed, a story making the rounds today has mind that the minimum demands are outrageous. They the ring of authenticity to it: A chassid of substantial are minimum, nonetheless. means approached the Gerrer Rebbe for a dispensation The Yerushalmi records the following story: from the rigorous rules the Rebbe had established. He Rabbi bar Chanina and Rabbi Hoshe'a were strolling was about to celebrate the wedding of an only daughter in the grandiose shul of Lod. Said Rabbi Chama to Rab­ and wished it to be a lavish affair. When the Rebbe bi Hoshea, "How much money our ancestors invested denied his request he pressed on, "But Rebbe, I have a here!" lot of money." Rabbi Hoshe'a replied ... "How many lives your Replied the Rebbe: "If you have so much money, ancestors invested here! Were there no men to engage perhaps you had better buy yourself a new Rebbe." in ?" (end of Perek "Me'emosai") The unconscionable spending so prevalent today can The Pnei Moshe (18th century commentary) ex­ be limited. Whether the technique is promulgation of a plained Rabbi Hoshe' a' s response: "They should better dollar limit on spending or a definition of the kind of have directed their money to support Torah scholars. wedding or Bar Mitzvah that is allowable, is a matter to Were there then no people who would have devoted be determined by Gedolei Yisroel. It would certainly be themselves to Torah study, but could not for lack of possible to prohibit such extravagant items as flowers, funds, ... and shortage of time for being forced to smorgasbord, Viennese tables, etc. Institutionalizing work to earn a living?" the bachurim's tisch (i.e., serving cold cut platters to One can easily paraphrase these words: The young friends of bride and groom) would also ap­ opulence of golus has devoured too many nefashos. In preciably reduce staggeringly heavy costs. Because the the catering halls and ballrooms of New York lay temptation to conform is so great, guidelines that set strewn thousands of pages of unlearned Gemora ... the boundaries are important. We can only cite the dafim sacrificed on the altar of crass materialism. To prayer of our forefather Yitzchak, who begged his finance this abomination, we have spent our energies father to tie him with ropes at the akeidah lest he trem­ and our spirit, and have been driven further into the ble from fear of the knife. clutches of a secular society that devours those who We, too, recognize that we must be bound tightly, or seek to embrace it. else we shall not have the strength to withstand power­ The solution to the problem is radical-and charming ful societal pressures.

The Jewish Observer I December 1978 7 Returning to a more modest, less ostentatious way of (favoring the merit system). Indeed, even those life in the spirit of '" o" no'?"'~"' "Walking modestly organizations that had been at the forefront of the civil with G-d" is one of the Torah's cardinal mussar prin­ rights movement, such as the American Jewish ciples. Yet, the golus theme is also there. If we indulge Congress and the Bnai Brith' s Anti-Defamation League, past the forgetting point, we begin to treat ourselves as submitted amicus curie briefs to the United States part of the golus culture. We forget that -"Then (in Supreme Court in opposition to the use of quotas. The Moshiach's time) our joy will be complete"-we are not net result of all this was a sharp split between the black permitted our full rejoicing until the advent of establishment and their long-time allies. Moshiach. It would seem to me that the Jewish position on such The Sound of Jewish Simchas questions requires a careful golus assessment. It One area in which there appears to be blatant dis­ appeared quite clear that affirmative action programs would not be dismantled, regardless of the United regard for the golus phenomenon is the presence of States Supreme Court decision. When the Court finally non-Jewish music as part of the standard fare at Jewish rendered its decision, the majority held that race could simchas-in apparently flagrant violation of halacha. be considered as a factor (though not the sole factor) in The halachic exemption allowing for rejoicing through an admissions program. For all practical purposes, the the medium of shiros vesishbachos (songs of praise to programs would proceed as before, without the formal G-d) does not by any stretch of the imagination include advertance to quotas. The difference between the "Zorba the Greek, "Pitom," or "The Hustle." Thev cheapen and debase the sanctity of the event. Ou.r holding of the Court that permitted the consideration of race as a factor and the quota rule was not a matter of peculiar genius as a people is reflected in our ability to earth-shaking significance. Even if the Court had dance and rejoice on the outside while crying on the in­ side. Only we can sing "Od yishoma ... There will yet struck down the use of race as a factor, it was clear that other stratagems were available to accomplish similar be heard in the cities of Judea and in the outskirts of , the voice of rejoicing . . . the voice of the results. The political commitment of the Carter ad­ bridegroom and the bride." Only we are able to pray ministration to affirmative action was clear and beyond cavil. and dance-weep and rejoice, simultaneously. Divrei shiros vesishbachos permit the uplifting of both the Given these political realities, did it make sense for Jews qua Jews to shatter a long standing political heart and the soul. Profane music, from sources that do alliance for the purpose of establishing a narrow sub­ not elevate the spirit nor enable the soul, have no part stantive principle? The golus Jew thinks about the to­ in our celebrations. day, and sometimes about the tomorrow. But long­ With a return to simchos that reflect a spirit of range substantive planning is a luxury in which we can­ modesty, we shall perhaps also achieve a change in tone not indulge at will. I rather believe that we made the that will permit us to demonstrate the fullness of our commitment to G-d and His Torah. wrong decision in opposing affirmative action quotas. Having been victorious on the issue, we strained relationships with a political force with whom we had JII. A Golus Mentality substantial rapport. It was in my opinion the wrong There is yet another aspect of golus that warrants our golus decision. attention. Golus America has been exceedingly good to One need not agree with my view on this matter. the Jew. We have come to believe in our birthright as Perhaps the principle-anti-quotas-deserved opposi­ American citizens. With it has come our belief that in tion. But before this issue and others are decided, the dealing with social and political questions, we have the question must be asked: in addition to the substantive right to make decisions based on the substantive merit right and wrong, what are the golus implications of our of the questions, irrespective of our status as golus decisions? We cannot be oblivious to our golus status. Jews. A golus weltanschauung is necessary if we are to That we tend to disregard it is testimony to a sense of respond with sensitivity and intelligence to the permanence and belonging-emotions that dare not be problems of our time. part of our psychological makeup. A prominent example is the heated debate that sur­ rounded the question of reverse discrimination: In Conclusion Bakke v. Board of Regents, the United States Supreme It is not my intent to romanticize golus. The pain of Court was faced with the question of whether to ap­ hester ponim (concealed Divine countenance) dare not prove the use of quotas in affirmative action programs. be debased by melodrama. Yet, to escape that awesome The University of California-Davis Medical School feeling of desolation and loneliness, we may fall prey to had set aside 16 seats for minority applicants. The con­ the glitter and gloss of golus. And therein lies the tention of Mr. Bakke was that the use of quotas as a danger. For we must remember that "All who mourn tool for affirmative action violated the Equal Protection Jerusalem and her ruin are destined to witness her Clause of the United States Constitution. This difficult rebuilding." issue placed the black community (backing the quotas) Golus in a land of freedom. Of course. But only with in sharp confict with much of the Jewish establishment a careful vigil will it be accomplished. !.T.

8 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 The Bereaved Jew's Bill of Rights prepared by Dr. Bernard Fryshman

For centuries, the organized Jewish charged their duties with a fidelity that sive funeral chapels proliferated. Funeral community-the kehilla-dealt with every matched their European counterparts, but directors influenced the organizations to special circumstance in the life cycle, in other cases, unfortunately, control of permit them to speak directly to the fami­ simcha and tragedy. Thus, from the time the Chevra fell into the hands of people ly, and under stress, shame them into a person died until after the mourning with little regard for halacha, who viewed buying a fancy casket-bearing fancy period, the Chevra Kadisha (burial socie­ the burial society as a means for profiteer­ prices-in direct violation of Jewish law ty) responded to the needs of both the ing. and tradition. Today, with the exception of deceased and the survivors-as The person in charge-bearing the title funerals handled by the few dozen active delineated by ha/acha, tradition, and local of Gabbai, Hospitaler or Chairman of the Orthodox organizations, 98% of the custom. It was deemed an honor for a Cemetery Committee-was always on burials are made in elaborate, expensive, man or woman to be selected to join their call. When a death occurred, he im­ wooden or even metal caskets, many with respective Chevra (for men or women), m ed ia te I y took charge of all outer protective concrete vaults-totally and once appointed, the member dis­ arrangements, from shmira (guarding the contrary to Torah law. Other practices charged his/her duty with the utmost body) and tahara (ritual cleansing before contrary to halacha, such as embalming, fidelity to the letter and spirit of the law. burial) to burial. "open coffins," and unattended burials­ As is well know, much in the way of The eulogies customarily took place in have also been instituted, either under the communal life was lost in the flow of im­ front of the home of the deceased or on pretext that they are legal requirements, migration from Europe to America. In the steps of the shut he attended. The un­ or by exerting strong emotional pressures many cases, various organizations, dertaker supplied the coffin, hearse and on the bereaved. Landesmanschaften and fraternal cars, if requested. Regrettably, many responsible societies had their own Chevra Kadisha. The organization generally had es­ organizations and Chevres are going out In other cases, especially in smaller tablished a standard price with the under­ of existence, and their function is being towns, the creation of a new Chevra taker, for which he furnished a specific taken over by funeral directors. In some Kadisha was assumed by the community. type of coffin (with or without nails, de­ cases, the state takes over a Chevra when Some times the American Chevros dis- pending on custom), the hearse, and it is informed of its pending dissolution. other transportation for mourners. With To protect the members' burial rights, the exception of the information needed many of the old Chevras have merged so for the death certificate, the family of the as to maintain some semblance of deceased was spared from making any Orthodoxy in their activities, without in­ Dr. Bernard Fryshman is associate professor of physics at the New York Institute of Technology arrangements and negotiating prices; all terference from the younger generation. and executive director of the accreditation commis­ dealings were transacted by the Gabbai, which to a great extent does not care sion of the Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Hospitaler, etc. who was also the sole about such matters. It is essential that we Talmudic Schools. He also serves as chairman of the Commission on Legislation and Civic Action of contact with the cemetery. do whatever we can to restore halachic Agudath Israel of America. His "A Vote for 'Hesh' As the more dedicated Chevra integrity to this crucial and sensitive is a Vote For-'Hesh' "was featured in Sept. '78 JO. members passed from the scene, expen- phase of human existence. INTRODUCTION protect our brethren from unnecessary Kadisha for assistance and guidance on hurt and sorrow at the time of their how to proceed. This will help ensure that Just as strict adherence to Torah laws bereavement. preparation for burial as well as the inter­ and practices apply in dealing with the liv­ ment itself are carried out in accordance ing, so are they mandatory in dealing with THE SIGNS OF DEATH with Jewish law. The above applies the deceased. Thus, all events prior to whether the death takes place at home, in There is unanimity among rabbinical and following a death are subject to the a hospital, or while the person was on a authorities that the time of death is deter­ principles of the Jewish religion. distant trip abroad. mined by the cessation of breathing and A death in the family generally besets On occasion, when the needs of the heartbeat. Absence of brain waves as the survivors with a numbness that makes deceased are being handled effectively recorded by an electroencephalograph, it difficult for them to insist upon the strict and the survivors are ill or their health even when accompanied by absence of adherence to halachic guidelines for would otherwise be dangerously com­ other vital signs, does not indicate death respecting the dead. It is therefore most promised by the shock of learning of the -all legislation to this effect notwith­ important that a competent authority-an death, it may be advisable not to inform standing. To the observant Jew, a Orthodox rabbi experienced in this field, them. In such cases, a rabbi must be con­ declaration of death based upon neuro­ or the head of the deceased's Chevra sulted. One is not required to inform logical criteria is much more than a viola­ Kadisha-be contacted as early as possi­ female survivors of a relative's passing tion of his/her rights of Freedom of ble in case of bereavement. His involve­ within the first thirty days, when a longer Religion. Under such circumstances, the ment in the funeral arrangements ensures mourning period is mandated. that the deceased will be treated with patient is often still alive and treating him as though he were dead in regard to dignity and care as defined by halacha. PRACTICES TO WHICH A JEWISH medical treatment and follow-up This outline of "rights" is being issued DECEASED MUST NEVER BE procedures CANNOT BE PERMITTED. as a service to the Jewish community with SUBJECTED several purposes in mind. For one, the Medical personnel MUST look for the classical signs of death before making a unaware individual should be alerted to AUTOPSY AND REMOVAL OF declaration of death. some of the problems encountered in ORGANS emergency situations, when no qualified authority is available. Well-intentioned TIME OF DEATH Any alteration in a corpse, such as takes place during an autopsy or in the managers of funeral homes can be poorly It is important to know the precise time removal of an organ, is a desecration of informed in regard to the requirements of death for the purpose of honoring the the dead to be avoided in all normal cir­ and sensibilities of the Jewish bereaved. deceased's yahrzeit after the first year. cumstances. Where the life of another in­ For that matter, doctors and hospital per­ The exact time of burial is significant for d iv id u a I requires one of these sonnel can at times also be unresponsive sitting shiva-the mourning period. It is procedures, an Orthodox rabbi must be to Jewish needs. In addition, public also important that the decedent's doctor consulted before the procedure takes authorities are often ignorant of religious sign the death certificate quickly to place. Unfortunately, medical personnel Jewish funeral practices; legislation and facilitate burial without undue delay. Next often put undue pressure on next of kin to regulations that limit traditional practices of kin should record the full Hebrew name permit autopsies, imparting the impres­ and customs are in violation of Freedom of the deceased and that of his/her father. of Religion, and should be eliminated. sion that the law requires their perfor­ It is hoped that the increased THE NEXT OF KIN mance, when it is not really so. NO awareness engendered by this Bill of As soon as next of kin are notified of CONSENT FORM SHOULD EVER BE Rights, coupled with the good intentions their relative's passing, they should im­ SIGNED WITHOUT CONSUL TING A of all concerned, will serve to prevent and mediately contact their rabbi or Chevra RABBINICAL AUTHORITY. Relatives of a person who died ac­ CREMATION up to the time of burial; this includes ac­ cidentally or as a result of suspected companying the body whenever it is be­ violence (circumstances that by civil law Cremation of the remains of a Jewish ing transported. The shomer should require postmortem examinations) are person is a gross desecration strictly for­ preferably be an Orthodox Jew, personal­ advised to contact their rabbi as soon as bidden by Jewish law. It is an act that ly committed to the belief that the body possible, to determine the halachic stand reflects a total negation of belief in must not be subjected to any indignities, on the particular case. To reiterate: any Techiyas Hameisim-resurrection of the as defined by Jewish law. The importance unjustified alteration in a corpse is a dead-which is a basic principle of faith. of the shomer's assignment is such that desecration. When a person mandates cremation of he is exempt from carrying out any other When postmortem examinations are his remains, his ashes are not to be in­ religious responsibilities while on his justified, they must be limited; and after terred in a Jewish cemetery, and in many watch. After the body has already been examination, the remains must be treated cases, the surviving family is not required placed in a box or vault, there are various with respect and brought to burial. (A to observe the usual mourning period. opinions on the matter. model limited consent form prepared by a rabbinical committee is available through COSMETIC PREPARATION AND RELEASE OF THE BODY the Committee on Religious Affairs of the VIEWING The next of kin is usually required to New York Federation of Jewish Cosmetic treatment of the body of the sign some sort of Authorization of Release Philanthropies.) Bed linens and clothing deceased is forbidden. Public viewing of Form. He must be alert to the prevalence that are stained with blood lost in death the body is considered an outrageous of standard release forms that authorize are to be secured from the hospital (or humiliation of the dead, in complete viola­ the chapel to embalm and otherwise other such institution), for in certain cases tion of the spirit and the letter of the desecrate the body of the deceased. He they require burial with the deceased. halacha. By the same token, relatives are should never sign a release form before Limbs and organs removed from a per­ forbidden to embrace the deceased, or reading it carefully. It is always advisable son during his lifetime should preferably even touch him except when involved in to enlist a rabbi's advice in this matter. be buried. Those removed for any reason preparation tor interment. Funeral homes that make use of such after death require burial. Under all deceptive forms are guilty of consumer cistumstances a competent rabbi should DELAYED BURIAL fraud and should be reported to local be consulted as to the procedure. The body of the deceased must be authorities. EMBALMING buried as soon as possible, preferably on the day of passing. Exceptions can be TRANSFER OF THE BODY The embalming process, wherein the made in unusual circumstances, but only In the absence of a Chevra, it is the blood of the deceased is replaced by an upon the ruling of an Orthodox rabbi. responsibility of the funeral director to embalming fluid, is strictly forbidden by Otherwise, every delay is an offense to arrange for transfer of the body from the Jewish law as a gross desecration of the the dead. body. Morticians who embalm the hospital, home, or morgue to the chapel remains of a Jewish deceased person as THE BURIAL PROCESS IN and then to the cemetery; the next of kin a matter of course violate the religious ACCORDANCE WITH JEWISH LAW should insist that a shomer accompany sensibilities and rights of the deceased the body at all times. Sometimes the and the survivors. A rabbi should be con­ GUARDING THE BODY director will arrange tor the shomer. An authority should be consulted as to the sulted regarding procedures for the pur­ Jewish law requires that a shomer lit.­ shomer's suitability. pose of transportation. "guard", should be with the body as much as possible from the time of death PREPARATION OF THE BODY The funeral parlor's primary concern is completely filling the cavity, above the (TAHARA) with providing a chapel with adequate level of its sides or at least to the depth of provision for services in accordance with three hand breaths: 9" -12") marks the The Tahara-ritual cleansing of the Orthodox tradition. formal completion of the burial, and the body-is the only process involving the beginning of the period of mourning. It is body of the deceased that is required by KRl'AH an integral part of a procedure of religious Jewish law. Tahara is properly performed significance. All earth removed from the Primary mourners (parents, siblings, by a Chevra Kadisha-sometimes an in­ excavation should be replaced on the spouse and children) must rend outer dependent group associated with the grave. garments-usually at the time of the community, in other cases in cooperation The custom of holding a wake has no funeral service or the burial, but oc­ with the funeral chapel. To ensure that place in Jewish tradition, and only serves casionally at some other time closer to the this intricate procedure is carried out with to dishonor the dead. fidelity to tradition by people of piety and deceased's passing, depending upon minhag (custom) and other variables. The reliability, the suitability and expertise of CONCLUSION the members of a Chevra Kadisha should black "mourning ribbon" has no place in be verified by an Orthodox rabbi. Jewish tradition. Proper observance of the dignity of the dead is a matter of great priority in CLOTHING THE BODY BURIAL . Next of kin who are able to carry out the burial of a loved one in a dignified (TACHRICHIM) The funeral procession should not be manner can take comfort in the fact that elaborate or ornate in any way. The con­ The body is clothed in simple white they have accomplished a gemi/as temporary use of decorative floral burial shrouds, preferably made of linen. chessed (act of charity) to the deceased arrangements has no place in the As in the case of the coffin, the simplest of the very highest order. Orthodox funeral. garment is mandated by Jewish law. It is hoped that with time it will no longer While ideally, only observant Jews be necessary to insist upon proper prac­ should be charged with opening the I COFFIN tices by funeral parlors and cemeteries. In grave, it is often left to the cemetery ad­ the meantime, a polite but forceful in­ The body should be placed in a plain ministration, which assigns the task to sistence upon one's rights to adhere to all-wooden casket, unadorned and un­ professional cemetery workers. Care one's religious dictates will ensure embellished in any way. Least expensive should be taken that the grave not be dug respectiful treatment and proper burial of is almost by definition "kosher" in regard before the day of burial. the deceased. A funeral director who to the coffin. Coffins made of concrete, When a death occurs on a legal holi­ proclaims that he "will not permit a rabbi/ metal, and other such materials, as well day, or on the previous day, the cemetery Chevra to interfere with my funeral" is ac­ as the use of linings, are expressly for­ workers in New York State are required to ting unethically and should be overruled bidden. The traditional coffin has one or open a grave providing that the cemetery by responsible family members. several holes bored through a panel near office is informed by 9 AM of the holiday. May Kial Yisroel and all its members be or on the bottom. A strike by cemetery workers should not spared further sorrow, and may death be be permitted to cause a delay in burial. If THE FUNERAL SERVICES forever banished from the face of the necessary, family, friends, and others are earth. The funeral is a religious service and obligated to provide burial in as ex­ thus should be under the complete peditious a manner as possible. To

guidance and direction of an Orthodox whatever extent possible, only observant For additional copies of The Bereaved Jew's Bill of Rights, send a self­ addressed, stamped envelope to Agudath Israel of America, S rabbi, with his presence and participation Jews should lower the coffin and cover it Beekman Street New York, NY 10031'. For bulk inquiries, call (212) through the completion of burial. with earth. The closing of the grave (that is 964-1620. Chanukah Gems

based on s.elections from Beis Yisrod a compendium of Torah thoughts by the late GERRER REBBE, Rabbi Yisroe/ Alter, 'i"~T translated and p1·epared for publication by RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN.

Chanuka Rededication, and the Mark of Abraham When they drove the Syrian-Greeks out of Jerusalem, the Chashmonaim converged on the Temple to kindle the Menorah anew. But the enemy had defiled all the jugs of pure olive oil. "They (the Chashmonaim) searched but they could find only one jug of oil which still lay with the seal of the Kohain -the High Priest" (Shabbos 2lb ). It seemed dear that no pure oil was to be had. Nevertheless, they searched and found! That, too, was one of the eternal lessons of the miracle of Chanukah: There is no room for despair in Jewish life; one must search, and if we seek we will find. When effort is ex­ pended, results are achieved. The Se fas Emes (Gerrer Rebbe at the turn of the cen­ tury) said in the name of his grandfather, the Chidushei HaRim, that in a deeper sense, the "seal of the High Priest" has many more implications beyond the par-

Rabbi Nosson Scherman is co-editor of the Artscroll Tanach Series and editor of Olomeinu, Torah Umesorah's magazine for children. His "Embers Midst the Ruins" appeared in the June '78 JO.

The Jewish Observer I December 1978 13 l ticular priest of the Temple service in the era of the that he and Isaac were embarking on a journey to attain Chanukah miracle. It can also refer to our father, the conceptual heights symbolized by Chanukah. Abraham. Abraham is described in Scriptures as "the Indeed, Chanukah-training and renewal-is a call to eternal priest" (Psalms 110:4), and, of course, Abraham youthful vigor and determination. It is Abraham's towered high among spiritual giants. We can therefore, legacy. interpret in the eternal spiritual sense, Abraham was a Chanukah, Aharon, and the Public Celebration Kohain Godol (High Priest) whose seal safeguarded the Chanukah is a time when all Jews can draw close to precious little jug of oil his offspring, Kial Yisroel. The the service of G-d. As Chidushei HaRim said, the merit qualities of Abraham became indelibly sealed into not of the Chashmonaim was that by risking their lives to only the flesh of his progeny (a reference to circumci­ sanctify His Name, they effected a change an sion of which it is said that Abraham sealed his off­ enhancement of the Jewish people's composite spring with the sign of the eternal covenant), but also in character, enabling all Jews to be worthy of G-d's their personality and character. The determination of miraculous salvation. The Chashmonaim acted on Abraham in his youth to seek out the identity of Him behalf of the entire nation and because they did, they who created heaven and earth, was transmitted to all imbued all Israel with the capacity better to serve G-d future generations. Thus it was that his descendants throughout all generations. That generation of could muster the zeal to continue searching for a means Kohanim contributed its bravery and dedication-and to rekindle the extinguished flames of the Menorah the historic result they brought about-to the rest of the long after it was "conclusively proven" that no purity nation through all future generations. could have survived the long ravages of Antiochus' s This helps us understand the significance of the hordes. priestly seal which attested to the purity of the lone King Solomon taught in Proverbs: t,,., •o 7;: 1;:;7 jiJr; usable jug of oil that was found in the otherwise totally Train a youth according to his way, even when he is defiled Temple. This had been set in motion by the first old, he will not withdraw from it" (Mish lei 22:6). In ad­ and quintessential High Priest, an allusion to Aharon, dition to the simple meaning, that proper training in who is described as one who loved and pursued peace, youth will leave its mark through adulthood and into who loved people and drew them close to the Torah. old age, the verse has a further message. The word Aharon was concerned with the needs of others and chanoch derives from chinu.ch, training, but it is also sought ways to benefit them. Chanukah, too, is a time related to Chanukah, dedication of the new, and that calls upon us to seek to help others, as we find that rededication and renewal of the old. Training and an integral part of the commandment to kindle the renewal go hand in hand, for it is an essential menorah is pirsumei nissa, to make a public display of characteristic of greatness that one never grows stale the remembrance of the miracle. That a private obser­ and static. One must always retain the vigor and in­ vance is insufficient implies that we are required to in­ tellectual suppleness of youth. Train a youth, and fluence others and to bring about within them as well as renew your own youthfulness-for the "youth" you are within ourselves a heightened awareness of G-d's responsible to train need not only be your neighbor's or greatness and mercy. This is indeed the attribute of your own progeny; the youth should be yourself. Your Aharon who labored to bring people closer to Torah. own training and renewal, too, dare not be neglected. This quality of Aharon is a major feature of his par­ This lesson, also, is foreshadowed by Abraham. ticular role-and the role of the priestly family, in When he surmounted the final the supreme challenge, general-among Israel. For at the time when the the akeidah, the Torah tells us,,,., 7x o:mx 011r1"and Mishkan (tabernacle) was dedicated in the Wilderness, Abraham returned to his youths'' (i.e. his servants). each tribal leader had his own day when, as the nassi of Homiletically, we are taught that even in his old age, at his tribe, he brought gifts and offerings to the newly­ the zenith of his career, Abraham returned to 1'"1Yl his built Mishkan. Aharon, however, was given no such own youthfulness. He had triumphed over all adversi­ privilege although he was the nassi of the tribe of Levi. ty, but satisfaction with his lot did not enter into his He grieved at his exclusion and assumed that it was makeup. Instead, he returned to the youthful quest of because of his role in the erection of the Golden Calf. new challenges and greater heights. G-d comforted him by commanding him to kindle the It was the same quest for greatness that had Menorah, telling him that his role was greater than characterized his ascent of the mountain with Isaac. theirs "for you are to stand and prepare the lights'' (see Then, he had mustered all his strength to rise to the oc­ Rashi at the beginning of B'ha'alos'cho). casion. Now, too, he returned with the freshness of King Solomon in Mishlei refers to the human soul as which newer triumphs are made. Symbolically, when ner, a light of G-d. Aharon's calling was to kindle-to Abraham announced to his servants that he would kindle flames of a Menorah and flames of human souls. climb the mountain escorted only by Isaac, he said that As Ramban comments, the other tribal leaders would he and the lad would go ,, w , until there. The word have their day of spiritual glory, bring their offerings, iohas the numerical value of twenty-five, an allusion to and then retire to the sidelines. Aharon's task, however, Chanukah which begins on Kislev 25. He was declaring would endure forever, for not only the Mishkan and

14 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 The Mezuzah, at the Jew's right, expresses man's acceptance of G-d as King. With that done, the Jew's primary world, his spiritual values, is set aright. Now his material world, represented by the left side, can be enjoyed. But these, too, must be sanctified by mitzvas-as represented by the menorah, at his left.

Temple service would begin with the preparation and children in honor of Chanukah. Scripture states, kindling of the Menorah, but his descendants at the 11Jo1 iw1~ 17N~wo---, in the left hand is wealth and time of the Chanukah miracle would rekindle the eter­ honor (Mishlei 3:16). The implication is-as real life nal light of Torah which had nearly been extinguished bears out-that wealth brings honor in its wake. Who and which, but for them, would have been snuffed out. does not know that the rich receive tributes undreamt Aharon's other task, the responsibility to kindle human of by the poor? But the same verse begins by saying beings and ignite them to greater efforts for G-d and for ll'~'J O'~' 111x--long life is in the right hand." Torah-that, too, would continue forever. As "Long life" refers to the values that are eternal, that live prophesied, his descendants proved it dramatically by on forever-dedication to the study of Torah and accep­ being the instruments of the Chanukah miracle and its tance of the yoke of G-d's kingdom. Once those resultant elevation of the entire nation with the zeal to priorities are firmly grasped in the strong right hand of sacrifice for Torah and the ability to a person's value system, he need not fear the tempting bring about miracles. The outcome of the rebellion distractions of prosperity and honor. These moral against the Syrian-Greeks was due to the valor of the marauders all too often lead a person away from a life Chashmonaim but, true to the tradition of their priestly of spiritual values and holiness, but not the person ancestor, they did not keep the fruits of victory for whose first priority is on Torah and reverence of G-d. themselves. They shared the flame, the lights, the With that sense of what he aspires to be, he will know brilliance with others. They proclaimed a festival, an how to utilize the most tempting temporal successes for integral part of which is promotion of the public their proper roles. He will turn them to the service of awareness that the flame of Torah is the central motif of his overriding aspiration to hold Torah and fear of G-d the nation, the magnet that draws every Jew closer to uppermost. Thereby, his use of the mundane for high his Maker. purpose will raise his level of holiness. Alluding to this concept is the halacha that when the The Left in Service of the Right Chanukah flames are kindled in a doorway, the In Haneiros Halalu we say, These flames are holy, we mezuzah adorns the right-hand doorpost while the have no right to use them. The expression Kodesh, ho­ menorah is placed next to the left-hand doorpost. ly, has a particular connotation, for the Sages teach 1V1p "Right" represents the lofty, spiritual aspects of life, 17 im~J l~~Y --it is incumbent upon a Jew to sanc­ while "left" represents the mundane and material. The tify himself particularly in areas that are permitted to chapters inside the mezuzah express man's acceptance him (see Ramban in Vayikra 19:1). There is a par­ of G-d as King. With that done, the Jew's primary ticular moral danger in indulgence in the permitted world, his spiritual values, is set aright. Now his pleasures of life. It is much more difficult to avoid material world, represented by the left side, can be en­ kosher gluttony than to avoid bacon. Indeed, the moral joyed. But even then, these passions and possessions triumph over the undue desire for the permissible ... is must also be sanctified by mitzvos, for the Jew dare not the major factor in producing the holy person, as op­ relegate this service of G-d merely to the obviously posed to the person who merely avoids transgression. "religious" functions of Torah study, prayer and chari­ To attain this degree of holiness, a person must ty giving. Thus, even the left-hand side-symbolic of resolve that he go beyond avoidance of over indulgence the totally secular areas of life-is used for the place­ in physical pleasures lest he become a pleasure-oriented ment of the menorah. person; he must even learn to utilize the permissible for Further expressive of this concept is the Talmudic holy ends. statement that it i• forbidden to count money by the Sifsei Tzaddik quotes Chidushei HaRim on the light of the Chanukah flames. The Sages were careful custom of giving "Chanukah Gelt", gifts of money to in their choice of illustration for the law prohibiting use

The Jewish Observer I December 1978 15 of the menorah's illumination for mundane purposes: Chanukah is precisely that: take your left-your earthly "counting money" is the best example of temporal physical desires-and transform them into your right. goods dedicated to amassing further wealth and luxury; Make everything in your life a vehicle for holiness by The left side of life becomes hallowed by the mitzvah of obeying those who teach you to do so. Therefore, the menorah-it should not be soiled and debased by halacha teaches us further that even if one must borrow thoughts of possessing money for the sake of simply or sell his belongings in order to raise funds to buy accumulating more money. If money is important to Chanukah lights, one must do so. Thereby, through his someone, it can be destructive. But if money doesn't willingness to sacrifice what little property he has for matter, then it becomes truly significant because it has the sake of Chanukah, he will be given a blessing com­ been relegated to a means of doing good. mensurate with his deed. By putting the mitzvah ahead In this sense, Haneiros Halalu declares that the of the material dictates, he removes his "left hand" flames are holy. True, their sanctity is not equivalent to from the domination of material concern. The reward that of a sacrificial offering or a pair of will be that the left hand will be filled with wealth and tefillin.Nonetheless they are holy, for they are meant to honor-because it made itself a willing and eager ser­ represent and bring about the attitude that renders holy vant of the holiness represented by the right hand. all aspects of life. Chanukah, the Termination of Bikkurim Season Indeed, the expression neir, flame alludes to people as well as to fire because the soul of man is referred to Chanukah is climaxed on the eighth night-we find by Scripture as a flame. Man's own soul, no less than other mitzvos that involve the number eight: Shmini his possessions, must be sanctified. Such an achieve­ Atzeres, the eighth dedication day of the Mishkan, cir­ ment need not-in most circumstances can not-come cumcision on the child's eighth day of life, and the about suddenly and completely. With commitment eighth day of Solomon's joyful dedication of the Bais comes a gradual elevation. Often, only a single area of a Hamikdah. Always, the eighth represents completion man's existence will be sanctified. But that single small of a holy task, the attainment of a level exalted above step can be enough to transform a person entirely, the mundane earth, which was created in only seven because holiness has a way of expanding and over­ days. Everything is evaluated according to its comple­ coming opposing forces within man. The Talmud tion. If a noble effort ends in failure, then the steps teaches that the Chanukah menorah may be kindled leading up to it lose their significance even though one until the last footsteps or pedestrian disappears from is rewarded for having made the attempt. But if it ended the nighttime marketplace. Following our line of inter­ in success, then every effort contributing to that pretation, we may read into this halacha the idea that success shares in the greatness of the achievement: The the person kindling the menorah must strive to remove number of flames increases in importance as it leads to his own feet from the corrosive influence of the wordly the successful conclusion of the holy series of days. marketplace. The Mishna teaches us that if someone neglected to Is that a small achievement? The "foot" is no longer bring in his Bikkurim (first fruits offering) before Suc­ present-but what of the rest of his body, mind, and cos, as the Torah commands-he may bring th~m to the desires? The Talmud teaches in a different context that Bais Hamikdash until Chanukah-but he may not read if an owner proclaims "May the foot of my animal the required chapter that is recited when the first receive the holiness of a burnt-offering," the entire fruits are presented to the Kohain. If the fruits were animal becomes a burnt-offering because the holiness not brought by Chanukah, then last year's fruits may that rests upon the foot spreads and encompasses the no longer be brought, for with the advent of Chanukah, entire animal. Such is the power of sanctity. And such a new season begins. is the intent of the Sages in cryptically using the dis­ This law apparently unrelated to Chanukah, is ac­ appearance of a "foot from the marketplace" as the tually a lesson in the deeper significance of Chanukah. cotrolling factor in the time of kindling. Aside from the With the coming of the holiday of dedication and chronological implications, Chanukah's very purpose is renewal, a new period begins. The past is gone and the to inspire Jews with the resolve to take the first step in Jew looks ahead to the new year and a new resolve that attaining holiness. Let that step be taken, and the entire the first fruits to be produced from a new set of labor is person has been placed on the road to sanctity. to belong to G-d and His most loyal servants. Interestingly enough, the Sages derive that the bind­ Thus does Chanukah teach a lesson of freshness and ing nature of the Rabbinic decrees, such as that which rededication. Never be satisfied with the past. Continue instituted the requirement to kindle the menorah, from to advance. Whether the past brought success or the injunction that Israel is not to deviate from the frustration, Chanukah marks the time to move on to words of the Rabbis "to the right or to the left." Upon new service and new sacrifice, to look forward to the this verse the Sages expound that even as they tell you time when one can say, "I have transcended my earthly that your left hand is truly your right hand, you must desires, G-d. The first fruits of my labors are a source believe them. The Sages cite this exegesis in connection of pride to me, and therefore l present them to You!" with Chanukah because the commandment of !.T.

16 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 Every city, town and village has its own history and heroes, flavor and emotional terrain. CHAIM SHAPIRO, a frequent contributor to these pages, captures the spirit of one of his hometowns: TIKTIN,

I was blessed with two home-towns, Lomza and Mordechai Yeffes ( O'iino7i ), Rabbi Ephraim Lunshitz Tiktin, both located in the north-eastern Polish ( 1i'' ''' ), Rabbi Yeshaya Hurwitz ( ""'"'" ), Rabbi province of Mazowsze, on the River Narew (Narrev). Yehoshua Falk ("""o) and Rabbi Shlomo Eidlish Both are rich sources of historical facts and inspiration. ( N"wii" ). On other documents are found other rabbis In this article, I will share some of my knowledge of my who served as in Tiktin: the Meharam M'Tiktin', Tiktin. then the Maharsho, and the Pnei Yeshoshua-Moginei Early Years Shlomo'. These were followed by: Reb Moshe Zev ( 01TN n11lN1 ,mNo1~'1 mNi~ ) and theo'O'i ixowho Tiktin was founded in the year 1437. In 1522, ten served as dayan there. From 5609 (1849) to 5613, the Jews from Grodno, , petitioned for permission Rav was Rabbi Yehoshua Isaac Shapiro, known as to be the first Jews to settle there. At that time, "Reb Izele Charif," who published eleven seforim, in­ Lithuania, the last pagan state on the continent, was a cluding the Yvi;i• cYin YlV171' po:v, From Tiktin, he went to vast country, three times the size of Poland, stretching and became known as "Reb Izele Slonimer." In from the Baltic almost to the Black Sea, including areas 1689, Reb Aryeh Leib, the son of the Taz and grandson known today as White Russia (where Minsk is located) of the Bach, became Rav, to be followed by Reb Moshe and Ukraine (Kiev). Even though Tiktin was on the Ziskind Rutenburg, who left Tiktin to become Rav of Polish side of the boundary, the Jews of Tiktin con­ the famous three Kehilos Altuna-Hamburg-Wansbeck, sidered themselves "Litvakes," speaking a pure Lithua­ nian , betraying their Grodno origins. where he served together with the Chacham Zvi, Rabbi Zvi Ashkenazi. Rabbonim In our generation, Rabbi Avrohom Kalmanowitz was Rav, from 1931-1937.' In America, the contemporary rabbi tends to mold How did Tiktin merit such outstanding Rabbonim1 the congregation in his image. By contrast, Europe of Perhaps the following legend may shed some light on old, the reflection worked in reverse: the Kehilla the matter: In the early days of Tiktin, various selected a Rav in its own image. As a result, one could members of royalty would sell, trade, and lease huge gain a good insight into the workings of a kehilla by the tracts of land; indeed, they owned literally dozens of personality of the Rav and his stature in Torah. towns and villages. On one occasion, the legendary Thus, we take note of the appearance of the name of Count Potocki was involved in a trade with Count Bar­ the first Rav, Reb Mordechai (1538), as judging a din nicki and they could not come to terms. Finally Count Torah (legal case) together with the renowned Barnicki made a wager with Potocki: Maharshal (Rabbi Shlomo Lurya) sixteen years after ''I'll accept your price if you'll find one Jewish home the first had settled in Tiktin. In 1590 we find dark on Thursday night in Tiktin!" The old Pole knew record of a takana (ordinance) regarding the rabbinate his Jewish citizenry-Thursday nights, every Jewish signed by Benjamin Aaron Charif, Rav of Tiktin, home was illuminate:!, for in every house in Tiktin, together with the Maharam M'Lublin, Rabbi someone was learning a Mishmor (an all night Torah session)!

1) N"t:i•7W i't:lP't:li':) O'""l;'!i':) -- N"\'!.1l.V J"i;;li':) OW 'TV:JN: '1V11M .nii':):l' .~01' 'i'li.n 2) That is, Sheilos Uteshuvos Pnei Yehoshua, grandfather of the Chaim Shapiro, who lives in Baltimore, is currently working on a Pnei Yehoshua on Shas. book, fragments of which are contained in this article. The historical 3) Rabbi Kalmanowitz is well-known as the founder of theMirrer data in this article is taken from Sefer Tiktin, published in Israel. Yeshiva in after World War II (JO March '72.). 1959

The Jewish Observer I December 1978 17 "Vaad Arba Ha'arotzas" communities. The Committee of Four Lands In those days, individual taxes were unknown. The In the fifteenth century, the Polish Kings granted kehilla collected taxes from member-families and paid a autonomy to the Jewish communities, recognizing the lump-sum tax to the king. The more member-families, organized Kehillos as both the internal authority and and the more communities in a province, the lighter the the representatives of the communitie~ vis-a-vis the individual tax load. Grodno wanted Tiktin to belong to King. The rabbis also gained the authority to enforce her "land" as part of its tax-base. But Tiktin had judgments in money matters and to punish sinners. The developed spiritually and financially, and was invited country was divided into four lands; "Great Poland," to be part of the Committee of Four of Poland proper. with its seat in Posen (Poznan); "Small Poland," seat in Rivalry increased between Tiktin and Grodno over four Cracow (Krakow); "Podolye," seat in Lemberg (Lwow); smaller kehillos located between the two communities, and "Vollin," seat in Ostrog (Wladimir). each one claiming them for herself. Then Polish Queen Jadwiga married the Lithuania Representatives of all these "lands" and their respec­ Grand Duke Jegello, thus establishing the J agello tive Rabbinates would convene at the yearly yarid Dynasty in Poland, eventually becoming the Polish­ (international fair) where they drafted takanos (or­ Lithuania Union (and the conversion of pagan dinances) for all member lands, and major din Lithuania to Christianity). Lithuania followed the (disputes) would be adjudicated. The dispute of Tiktin Polish example, granting the autonomy to its Jewish v. Grodno was brought to the yarid and the psak (ver­ communities: A committee of five lands was es­ dict) was in favor of Tiktin. Grodno bickered and tablished, representing the Kehillos of "Brisk," hesitated in accepting the psak, but the threat of "Wilna," "Grodno," "Pinsk" and "." Hence cheirim was enough to force the issues. Thus, Tiktin Grodno and Tiktin were for the first time paying taxes became recognized as a major kehilla on Poland. to th~ same king, resulting in friction between the two

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r i ~·~ .· The Psak of Reb Chaim of Tiktin psak difficult, it is the halacha (legal principle) that can One of the Committee of Four Lands' takanos limited be formidable. a local Rav to decide on din Torah's not exceeding 500 "!," concluded Reb Chaim, "concur with Moshe Gulden. A case of greater magnitude was to be brought Rabbeinu." before the district Beis Din. A kehilla was founded in The Shu! Stuchin (in the Tiktin district) by Rabbi Chaim Tiktin offered many places for tefilla. Every chevra Shenberg. A recognized talmid chacham and wealthy had its own Beis Medrash-for Torah study and prayer. businessman, he served temporarily as Rav of Stuchin. In addition to the Chevra Shas, which met in the big Reb Chaim once decided a din Torah of 800 Gulden Beis Medrash, Tiktin had a Chevra Mislmayos, Chevra and was immediately summoned before the Beis Din of Chumash, Tehillim, Chayei Adam (later switching to Tiktin, to explain his breach of conduct. Reb Chaim Mishna Brura). Even the butchers had their own min­ justified his actions as follows: "The judiciary in Klal yan, called "Zovchai-Zevach" where a rabbi would Yisroel was organized on the advice of Yisro, Moshe teach Ein Yaakov every day. But the crown of the city Rabbeinu's father-in-law. Notice, Yisro advised 'They was the 400 year old shul, one of the oldest in Poland. shall bring every great matter to you, and every small A huge building, shaped like a fortress, with long case they should judge themselves.' However, Moshe spiral staircase leading to a roof-top turret for scouting Rabbeinu ordered, 'Every difficult case be brought to for approaching enemies. Entering the shul, one had to me.' Why the change from big to difficult? Yisro had descend three steps, corresponding to the words: planned that Moshe's psak-gdt (legal fee), based on pxv o•p,,,,,"From the depth I called to you, 0 G-d !" percentage, should yield him more money. However Four more steps led to the amud-totaling seven, Moshe Rabbeinu's concern was elsewhere. He knew representing the seven letters of the word t:l'p1J~'bn . The that the same legal principle applies to a penny as to a shul had a brick floor surrounded by white walls, hundred Gulden. The amount at stake does not make a covered with various tefillos and verses from Tehillim. 'r:/fi-=--=:.:' / .... .__\. 1 l ,p-.~ ~ ' !. ~ ~1 ...._ · - l ~;; ~~~ L: .. ~~ ;, •. ,,._4 ~.;::. L! \\. ;_..,.-.,,~ \ •,i ' l V' i. .-t :',~... . A - ., ·e-

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/ ' Next to the entrance the wall had a wide slit covered Governing The Kehilla with iron bars, which was the box. Over it Although the Jews lived for generations under the was posted a poem by the Ibn Ezra: "A per>on frets tyranny and the absolute rule of the Russian Czars, and over the loss of his money.1•7;)"'!-r1::i•N?Yll'\1"'lo•!'\ But has no later under the semi-fascist government of Poland, concern over the loss of his days. 1'1'' 11:;•N 7Y )Nn •i·xi His democracy reigned within the Jewish community. money will not help him. ,:, r1•ui Jl'!<( 1•1yr His days Annual community elections were held every Chol will never return!i? r1nn Jl'N ,,,,, Tzedaka redeems from Hamoed Pesach for a Rosh Hakohol (president of the death." m17;);, 7•:ln :ip·i::; community) and a number of Parneisim (councilmen). Came winter, no one davened in the huge central They were charged with directing the kehilla's affairs as hall, for it would have been impossible to heat up. The well as representing the community to the outside front room, called "the Polush" had entrances to authorities. Selecting a Rav was another matter. A com­ smaller rooms that were a beehive of activity. One led mittee of talmidei chachomim travelled to all corners of to the "Vaibersher Shul" (ladies section), which had the land, interviewing and "reden in lernen" (discuss­ small curtained windows looking out into the Maariv ing Talmudic subjects) with the candidates, and then (Western) side of the Shul. A small room to the side, made their decision ...• (The elections of a rav furnished with a low bench and a leather strap, was described by law of the Polish fascist government, in­ used only on Erev Yorn Kippur. In earlier times, when sisting on "democracy" among the Jews, was merely a the Be is Din sentenced offenders to malkos (a flogging), formality.) the shamosh would execute the psak in that room using The Kehilla would determine the Rav's salary accor­ the leather strap. In our days, people would come there ding to the size of his family. In addition, he was voluntarily before the Erev Yam Kippur Mincha per­ provided with a spacious apartment equipped with a form symbolic malkos, saying Vidui (the confessional "Beis Din Shtub" (hearing room for litigations)-rent prayer). free. The Kehilla budget was funded by a family head­ The Mizrach wall contained Kameyos (scrolls con­ tax and a shechita tax, sufficiently to pay the Rav, taining mystical inscriptions) built in by various tzad­ dayan, Shochtim and Chazonim, plus funds for various dikim. One kameyo was placed above the huge Aron charitable activities. In Eastern Europe, it was HaKodesh by the Maharsho when he was Rav in customary to supplement the rav's income with G-Z-E­ Tiktin. Many miracles recorded in the official records l-L-0! That is, certain items could only be purchased (Pinkes Tiktin) are credited to those Kameyos. Among from the Rebbitzin. "Gimme/" for Gazze (kerosene), them: A huge bronze chandelier, branching out with a for their lamps . , . "Zayin" for Zaltz-salt, a staple in hundred candle-holders hung from the center of the every home ... "Yud" for Yayin, wine . , , "Lamed" ceiling. One Kol Nidre night, when the shul was packed for Licht, Shabbos candles. "Hey"-Heivn yeast, a must to capacity, the chain snapped and the chandelier for home-baking. For centuries, no one ever dared to crashed down-yet, no one was hurt! invade this franchise. Different communities selected The city of Tiktin-strategically located on the River different items to reserve for the Rav. For instance in Narew, crossed by important bridges-was a battle Tiktin, only yeast was franchised to the Rav. Most ground in numerous wars. Since the shul's extraor­ Rebbitzins would subvent their monopoly to one or dinarily thick walls provided protection during the at­ two grocery stores for a fee. tacks, the shul served as a shelter for the Jewish popula­ Hence the popular joke: "A Rav lives from gzeilo." tion. During the World War I, the Bolsheviks attacked Tiktin with a heavy artillery barrage from across the Recent Events river. While the Jews said Tehillim before the open Aron HaKodesh, a number of shells hit the Mizrach World War One wall. The Torah scrolls shook as in an earthquake, but not one shell penetrated the walls! The many cavities "And where was Denah? Yaakov hid her in a on the outside of the Mizrach wall remained as a chest, , , lest Eisav cast his eyes upon her"-Rashi remembrance of the said miracles; throughout all the on Bereishis 32:23. renovations and exterior paintings that were per­ formed, the holes were left as were. From the window in During wartime, when cities and villages often my grandfather's house facing the shul, I would often changed hands, Jewish girls would hide in their attics or gaze at the amazing holes in the Mizrach wall. basements. Not until the fighting front-line-troops passed or martial law was established would a Jewish girl dare to show her face in the streets. Because of this *This procedure was apparently devised by the Maharsho, as he guarded behavior, many an army suspected the Jewish wrote: " ... the cause of these problems is that only the lay leaders community of being hostile. chose a rabbi according to their whim or fancy, with money playing no small role. Properly, the scholars and rabbis should select the During World War One, my grandfather Reb leader from their midst, as it was in -previous generations." Shmuel Leib-called Panie (Sir) Shmulke by the non­ (Maharsho, Sotta: 40) Jews was Rosh Hakohol. The Czar's general mobilized

20 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 civilians to dig trenches, so my grandfather pleaded responsive if the life of their leader were in danger, with the Commanding General to free the Jews from turned to Zeide in anger: "You have just confessed to digging on Shabbos, offering Sunday instead. The spying! You are under arrest!" He then sent the old arrogant Russian officer had him arrested at once, for prisoner home, and advised him to let the family of interfering with the war effort, to be tried by the "Herren Shapiro" know that he'd be shot the next mor­ military. His many Polish and Russian friends ning at ten. The whole town was in a turmoil, and again organized a delegation to assure the general of his people gathered in every shul to say Tehillim. patriotism, honesty and religious devotion, and thus saved their "beloved Shmulke." Feigel to the Rescue The Russian army retreated and Germans occupied My grandmother, known variously as "Feigel the the town. In those days, the Germans were better businesswoman" or "Faigel the Tsaddeikes," had her educated and considered more humane than Russians own special methods of reaching Heaven in an or Poles. However, they had two major problems: com­ emergency. There was no time at all for niceties, for she munication and provisions, and these drove them to ex­ had to act swiftly. tremes. The further East they penetrated, the less they She entered the big Beis Medrash, shocking the men could communicate with the local population, except saying Tehillim. She took Zeide's Gemora and placed it for the Jews who were able to make do with Yiddish. As inside the Aron Hakodesh. Then, burying her face in for food supplies, Germany imported food during the sefer Torah, she sobbingly prayed that in the zechus peacetime; during the war the army was all the more of his learning Torah, of his gemilas chessed, and of his dependent on local sources. children and grandchildren who studied Torah, her When the Germans occupied Tiktin, the first order plan should succeed. was to rebuild the bridges over the Narew River, Without a word to anyone she marched off to the destroyed by the retreating Russians. Again Zeide, who Commandant's office where as the wife of the prisoner, spoke German fairly well, went to the German com­ she was admitted. Casually she explained that she had a mandant to plead for the Jews that Sunday be sub­ house full of hungry children, and that when she had stituted for Shabbos. He even offered a number of Jews been on the way to her favorite farmer-friend to get to serve as translators on Shabbos, but not to labor. The some supplies, she heard of her husband's arrest, so she German officer, although polite and less arrogant than came immediately. Her pained heart sent off a prayer to the Russian general, had refused the exchange and Heaven that the officer should swallow bait. He turned ordered Zeide arrested. No charges were specified, but to her with a conniving smile: "Ach so, Frau Shapiro, he spent two days and nights in a military prison. No you have hungry children to care for. You inust not one was left to intervene, so the Jews resorted to their wait. Go at once. When you will return home, your last line of defense and said Tehillim. While the heart­ husband will be there waiting for you." rending sound of the prayers poured through the open She walked out pretending to be unaware that she windows of the shul, two German Jewish officers was being followed, all the while praying and saying passed by and inquired as to the cause. Then they went Tehillim, until she reached the house of Jan Szymanski to the commandant who had Grandfather released. in the outskirts of Tiktin. Mr. Szymanski, the most A few days later, the German Commandant sum­ vicious Jew hater in town, who prided himself that no moned Zeide into his office, demanding that the Jewish Jew ever crossed the threshold of his house, owned a community supply food for his men. Zeide explained big farm and a large house. Bobbe F aigel walked up to that city-folk do not grow food. Farmers no longer gave his front gate, opened it halfway, and then turned them credit because the currency was worthless; as a around suddenly. "Discovering" the sergeant and the result supplies diminished, and the people themselves two armed soldiers, she quickly closed the gate and con­ were hungry. When the German nodded his head, tinued along the dusty farm road. A deep sign went up Zeide thought the case closed, only to discover to Heaven that they, too, should swallow her "bait"- otherwise the following day-Friday. and they did. They would not be misled by that stupid An elderly Jew was arrested while checking the eiruv, old Jewess who didn't want them to know who her charged with espionage: supplying the enemy informa­ supplier was. Running through the fields and side tion through the eiruv wires! The Commandant set the streets, she made it home where she found Zeide hour of execution for IO AM Saturday. The town was waiting for her. in shock, the ridiculous charge was obviously trumped No one ever knew the amount of food confiscated up to pressure the community into delivering food from Szymanski, but for the next six months he was in supplies to the army-but how could they do so? bed recuperating from the terrible beating he suffered Again Zeide appealed to the Commandant: "You will from the German soldiers. When he finally appeared in kill an innocent man and food will still not be the streets, supported by two crutches, the Jewish forthcoming. That deaf old man is as much a spy as I citizens could not suppress their smiles. And my grand­ am!" Zeide then asked permission to leave. mother gained yet another title-"F aigel the Chachoma The German, realizing that the Jews would be more (the wisewoman)."

The Jewish Observer I December 1978 21 Rosh Hakohol and Mayor Kalmanowitz." When I had been learning in the Since Tiktin was 75% Jewish, it could have elected a yeshiva in Tiktin', the entire class would report to the Jewish Mayor. But the anti-Semitic Polish Government Rav for oral examination. The Rav would begin by ask­ gerimandered the districts in Tiktin to include ing a few questions, then the in him neighboring villages, ensuring that a Pole always be would take over and the bechina (exam) would tum elected. In my time, however, the vice-Mayor was into a (lecture). But now I was all by myself, and Jewish-Reh Yisroel Cohn, a ta/mid chacham and a petrified. well-to-do businessman who also was a great anav While the meeting was taking place in the Beis Din (humble person). Everyone called him "Srolki Shtub, I was in the next room, preparing myself. After Kadishes" since his father's name was Kadish. No the meeting adjourned, the Rav entered my room in all sooner was Srolki elected Rosh Hakohol, but the Polish his splendor: tall, erect in a colorful silk house coat. His Mavor became ill and died and Srolki Kadishes pointy yarmulka, plus the knee-high boots shining to a suc~eeded him as Mayor; and he wore both crowns glow, with the pants tucked in them, all added to his with characteristic humility and dignity. One might ex­ height. Combing his long gray beard with his fingers, pect the two responsibilities to overlap or conflict, hut he said; "Chaim'ke come inl You're learning Tagrei he kept them independent of each other, as the follow­ Lud (a very complicated subject), eh?" He then in­ ing incident illustrates. quired about Reb , my father, and the family. Before closing the door, he called out to the Shamosh, "Go to the Magistrat (City Hall) and tell the mayor that if he doesn't send in the rent by Friday, I· shall have the community school evicted."' The Reb­ bitzen called out from the next room, "Srolki Kadishes was just here. The Rav couldn't tell him that in per­ son?" With authority in his voice, the Rav replied, "When Reb Yisroel Cohn is in my Beis Din Shtub, or in the Beis Med rash, or in the streets of Tiktin, he is the Rosh Hakohol. Only when he is in the Magistrat is he mayor."

"Yachsonim" and 11 Vertlach11 Many cities in Poland had nicknames, which give a fairly accurate reflection of its inhabitants. Here are a few examples: Warsaw's "Varshever ganovim"/ Lon­ Recent Rabbonim in Tiktin: za' s "Lomz:er Balonim," "Kolner Peklach," Rabbi Avrohom Kalmanowitz, and Rabbi Sum.yaticki, of blessed memory. "Bialystoker Kuchns" . . . and Tiktin's "Tiktiner Yachsonim" for almost every one in Tiktin considered One summer, on the way home from Baranovitch himself a Yachson (of an aristocratic lineage). Yet they (where I was studying in Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman's seldom intermarried, for they knew too well the other's Yeshiva), I stopped off at Tiktin to see my uncle Reb yichus and it was always below theirs ... When asked Shlomo Pines who was a parness in the kehilla. Uncle after an out-of-town marriage how they manage to Shlomo was on the way to a meeting of the Kehilla assess an outsider's yichus, they would reply: "The Board in the Beis Din Shtub and he invited me to come Jews made the Golden Calf-why? Because they along "so you could talk to the Rav, Rabbi presumed Moshe to be dead? So what? They could still have chosen a leader like Aharon, Chur or Koleiv. Why 4) Four of us remained from that Yeshiva: Reh Yossel Linchevski settle for a calf? But they felt-Let it be a Kalb (calf) as and Reh Chaim Ginsburg, both currently in Ne1v York, and Reb long as it comes from the outside." Avrohom Dovid Nizhnik, now in tv1ontreal. 5) Jn Poland, elementary local education was obligatory (grades 1 Getting Married in Tiktin to 7, ages 7-14). The city government was required to furni!•h a In Tiktin, every chupah took place on Friday in the building and pay for the teachers. In Tiktin, the Jewish children back yard of the shul. After the chupah the procession would not attend school together with non-Jewish children. The would dance to music through the streets to the house Kehilla owned a school huilding. for which dty hall paid rent and of my Uncle Shlomo. His living room was the largest in teachers' salaries. 6) Warsaw was famous for its flim·-flam operators and pick­ the entire town and was always available for the pockets. A Lon1zer was called a ha'a/011 (shopper) because he 1vas reception-kiddush. Big receptions and large dinners always interested in buying anything. The round, flat kuchens so were strictly forbidden. On Shabbos morning, the popular on New York's Lower East Side originated in BL~lystok~the Chassan and Kallah walked to shul togeth'er, and then "byalies. '' after davening, followed by a dancing crowd, they went

' 22 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 ,["' to the Kallah's parents for kiddush. Once a poor widow were: sold her last pillow in order to cover the costs of the • Srolki Kadishes, a successful business man and morning kiddush. When the Rav learned about this. he ta/mid chacham who had studied in the Yeshiva in enforced a new takana (ordinance). Only the immediate Volozhin. He had served as both Rosh Hakohol and family members were permitted to participate in that Mayor (as mentioned). When the Chofetz Chaim kiddush. Such takanos were strictly upheld. Thus, visited Tiktin and urged everyone, especially the much to the amazement of visitors, the parents of the kohanim, to study Kodshim (the section of Talmud Kallah stood in the doorway greeting all well-wishers, which deals with sacrificial order) in anticipation of responding to their Maze[ Tov's with an invitation: Moshiach's coming, Srolki Cohn and my Zeide (both "Come in, you are one of the family." Yet, no one Kohanim) convened a daily two-hour session before would enter. davening, dedicated to studying Kodshim. Srolki always carried large sums of money with him, stopping Chevros boys at random , asking: "Show me your tsitsis," or A boundless love for one another thrived among the "What is the Omer count today?" A positive reply Jews in Tiktin. This found expression in both personal would earn the boy a handsome cash reward. relationships and institutional life. Thus, there were • Reb Yanke' le Levinsohn,' a tzaddik and ba'al mofes numerous charitable Chevros, where besides paying (miracle worker), had undertaken to support Torah dues, the members donated their services. In addition, a students and scholars in need. Once Reb Yanke'le ap­ special Shabbos every year was dedicated in all shuls to proached two childless well-to-do families in Tiktin. appeals for funds for each chevra. Someich Noflim "Last night I dreamed about a baby in a cradle. Give me (Support for the Fallen), the fund which secretly aided one thousand rubles (a fortune in those days) for the families in need, had their Shabbos when Behar was yeshiva, and I guarantee that you shall have a child." read, which included the passage: "And when your One family rejected the offer, the other accepted. Exact­ brother falls ... you should surely help him" (Vayikra: ly one year later a boy was born to the second family. 25, 35). Lenas Hatzedek and Bikkur Cholim (Helping • Rabbi Yerucham Barash was the town wine maker, the Sick) had Beshalach, which includes:"! am the L-rd but no one knew when he made the wine, for most of your Healer" (Shemos: 17, 25). The functions of these the time he was in the Bais Hamed rash with two fingers two were clearly defined: Linas Hatzedek would stuck in his ears so as not to be distracted from his provide all types of medical equipment and drugs. In studies. When the government declared a monopoly on those days of primitive medicine, ice was a major cure. all alcoholic beverages, he was arrested and convicted to It would be placed on the ill person constantly, until the a one-year prison sentence. In jail, he went through crisis was over and the temperature dropped. The Shas twice. After his release, he commented, "Every members would volunteer in winters to cut the river ice, Jew must serve in jail once in his life. One year is not which was stored in specially equipped cellars for the enough-at least two, preferably three. " entire year. The members of Bikkur Cholim •In a town full of yachsonim, my grandfather Reb volunteered to care for the sick over-night while the Shmuel Leib Shapiro was the yachson of them all. He family rested, cook for the family, and feed the spelled his name with a shva under the Shin, not a children. patach-which, according to tradition was a sign of a In addition, there were Shabbosos for the Talmud true kohein. He studied in the Chofetz Chaim's Kole/ Torah, the yeshiva, Bais Yaakov, Hachnosas Orchim Kodshim and knew Kodshim by heart. As a successful (Traveler's Aid), Hachnosas Kallah (Financial Aid for businessman, he would often return to Tiktin from a the Poor Brides) and of course Hekdesh. The Hekdesh trip late at night, never going home, but straight to the served as a shelter for the indigent, the elderly, and the Beis Medrash to study until Shacharis, the next mor­ incurably ill. ning. While the Jews referred to him as "the Pikeach," One should bear in mind that Tiktin's Jews sup­ for he was extremely wise, the non-Jews called him ported all these charities in the days when the term "tax "Panie (Sir) Shmulke," for he knew the civil and deductible" was not yet known. criminal law as Il).Uch as their own judges. Before a trial they would often come to him for advice. Personalities He was frequently involved in court cases with Polish land owners, hardly ever losing a case. As the Telling of Tiktin without mentioning some of her District Court was located in Lomza, he was a frequent outstanding personalities would be a sin, indeed! Each visitor in our house. Rabbi Yechiel Mordechai Gordon, one was an institution, and besides being of interest on Rosh Yeshiva in Lomza (JO Jan '76), once told me, their own, shed light on Tiktin as a whole. Among them "When your Zeide arrived in town, I knew he was oc­ cupied in court. Yet he always found time to come and visit me and ask a few kashyas that would take me a 7) Rabbi Pinchas Levinsohn, formerly Chizever Rav, presently in month to answer." New York, is a grandson of Reb Yankele. Rabbi Ravich W'U'7tv of the Tel Aviv beis din told me,

The Jewish Observer/ December 1978 23 "Your Zeide's place of study was behind the bimma. his young widow dedicated the rest of her life to raising Once when he walked away for a few minutes, some her eight sons and one daughter to a life of Torah. In pranksters turned his Gemora upside-down. When he spite of all sorts of difficulties, she realized her goal: returned, he continued studying out loud for three Some learned in the (they ate Shahbos hours without straightening the Gemora. We then and Yorn Tov meals in our house for years), some in realized that he had become blind in his old age." Slobodke, some in Kaminetz. One of them, Reb •The last Rosh Hakohol of Tiktin, my uncle Reb Mordechai, married the daughter of Rabbi Isaac Sher Shlomo Pines was a ta/mid chacham, businessman and 7"~! of Slobodke, and is presently Rosh Yeshiva in a Lavnik (member of the executive of the city council)­ Yeshiva Slobodke Bnai Brak, Israel. a most honest man, • trusted by Jew and Gentile alike. • My grandmother Faigel was a millionaire in mitz­ When the Jewish merchants opened their first commer­ vos. Every morning, she was ever consulting the clock, cial bank, they did not have a safe to store the cash on for she knew the exact minute when she could catch a hand, so it was delivered daily to Reb Shlomo. Every "Kedusha" in the Chevra Chumash Beis Medrash, a merchant eagerly awaited Friday, the market day. Reb "Borchu" in Chevra Mishnayos, an "Omein-Rabbo" in Shlomo, however, donated his living room for every Chevra Tehillim. By the time she opened her store at wedding reception, which usally took place on Friday. BAM, she already had a stock of mitzvos that would Neglecting his own business, he personally welcomed take someone else a month to accumulate. She ran the the wedding party to his home. When the Tiktiner business to permit Zeide to spend more time in Beis Societies of New York and sent funds for the Hamedrash. While she was active in all charities, her poor twice yearly (Ma'os ChJttim before Pesach, and pet project was the Hekdesh where she was Gabbai'te. money to buy firewood and potatoes for the winter, She had strange kabbala ways for meeting all before Succos), the checks were addressed to him and emergencies. When my father was a little boy, he made out in his name. became very ill and the doctors gave up on him, she • Zir'l Lisansky, the midwife who delivered all knew exactly what to do. First, she went to the cemetery babies, also the Gabbai'te of the local Chevra Kaddisha and measured the entire length of its fence. She donated (burial society). People said: "She brings them to this the same length of linen to the Hekdesh, which she world and she returns them." A midwife possessed made into sheets and pillow cases. Shuls and special status in town-since the time the author of the recited Tehillim on his behalf, and he was given the ad­ Sefer Ma' aros Hatzovos served as Rav in Tik tin. When ditional name of" Alter" to signify that he should live he had found an increase in the number of halachic to a ripe, old age. She vowed to give a year's supply of queries in she'eilos nashim especially after confine­ meat for Shabboss and Yom Tov to the Hekdesh in his ment, he dismissed the midwife serving Tiktin and im­ merit ... To the shock of the local doctors, the boy ported a replacement from Germany. Ever since, a recuperated. Previously, the boy was considered to midwife in Tiktin was professionally trained and have a grobbe kop (to be thick-headed), for his Rebbe skilled, and no obstetrician could ever get established in could hardly scarcely teach him the Alef Bais, but after Tiktin. his illness he developed into a near-genius. He went on • Beile Dvora Shulman was the wife of Reb Simcha to study in Radin (JO April '78), then to Slobodke Shmuel Shulman, who had received semicha (ordina­ where he learned be'chavruso (in partnership) with tion) from the Aruch Hashulchan (Rabbi Yechiel Rabbi Reuven Grozowsky. He became a ta/mid of the Mechel Epstein) beginning with the words: ''1Y"~ "~"'" Alter of Slobodke, who sent him later with Reb Reuven 1;iw'!l."'l17J 'n•n,1111., Yet he refused to accept a rabbinical posi­ and eight others to save the yeshiva in Mir. There he tion, and became a manufacturer. After he died at forty, became a ta/mid muvhok (prime disciple) of Reb Yeruchom Leibovitz (JO, June '77). hesped 8) His youngest daughter, Menucha, wanted desperately to enter Rabbi Avraham Kalmanowitz in his (eulogy) the Seminary in Crakow, but she was only twelve and the minimum on Tiktin writes ... "When I arrived in Tiktin I met acceptance age was fourteen. When he refused to falsify her age and baalei batim (laymen) who knew a number of told her to wait two more years, she complained to our Zaide. Zaide Mesichtos in Shas literally by heart. Just to mention a went down to City Hall ordered a new "birth certificate" written to few: Reb Shmuel Leib Shapiro, his son Alter, and all his specification, and she was accepted. When she graduated, Sara sons-in-law; Reb Berl Glickman, a relative of the Sfas Schenirer sent her to Frampol (near Lublin) to open a Bais Yaakov Emes; and Reb Naftoli, my father-in-law .... " school. How could a mere fifteen year old impress a community and I MERELY RECORDED STORIES told in our family its Rav, and win its children? A tall girl, she put on heels and fixed her circle. One easily could go on and on. This beautiful hair in a mature fashion, and succeeded. She was then dispatched to Jewish life was ended, when the Germans entered Chelm to strengthen the Bais Yaakov there, and later to Sokolov. She returned to the Seminary every summer for more courses, given by Tiktin at the very beginning of World War II. The Dr. Deutschlander (JO June '75). Poles, neighbors for over 400 years, performed their In 1940 she escaped to Jerusalem where she is teaching Bais national (Polish) duty. They joined hands with their Yaakov to this very day. She is married to Rabbi Zvi Paley of German enemy to wipe out every single Jewish life. Yeshivas Chevron. May their memory be a blessing and an inspiration. !..T.

24 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 For Tender OKS Loving

Care CHALLENGE OF SINAI, by Rabbi Zecharia Fendel (Hashkofoh Publications, 1978; $11.95 in one volume, 24 HOURS A DAY $13.95 in two) 7 DAYS A WEEK This work, available both in one volume and in two, is a follow-up and continuation of the author's Anvil of HOME AND HEALTH Sinai (The Jewish Observer, Dec. '77). In his introduc­ tion, the author draws attention to the sense of frustra­ CARE SERVICES tion he has found among the individuals eager for NURSES' AIDES• COMPANIONS• HOMEMAKERS• NURSES·AN LPN spiritual growth but despairing of ever reaching perfec­ AESIOENTIALS •NURSING HOMES• HOSPITALS tion. He stresses that, in the one hand, we cannot be really expected to reach the ultimate ideal; and on the MATERNITY CARE• INFANTCARE •• other hand, it is "the perpetual striving towards the at­ Servrcmg the needs of kosher fam1/1es. Special rates for Agudah members -= tainment of perfection and self-improvement, which is the all important thing." Whereas his earlier work dealt Ephraim Koschitzki. Director II YIS4" I (member of Agudah) · ···; largely with principles of Torah faith, the present work Serving All Insurance Cases seeks to help the individual in his day-by-day en­ counters with the yeitzer hora (evil inclination), in his Tender loving Care Home Care Service, Inc. striving for kedusha (sanctity). 39-15 Mam Street. Flushing, N.Y. 11354, Tei: 12121 359-6464 Rabbi Shllt"a: "I would like to ask our fellow Jews to take part In this great and noble mllz· vah." On the 2nd day of Pesach 5737, our dear friend Moshe GROWING STRICTLY ORTHODOX COMMUNITY David ben Margolin Ruben Zt"I was suddenly rushed to the hospital. The doctors diagnosed his ailment as an advanced PARAMUS, stage of leukemia-only a miracle would pull him through the 30 MINUTES BY BUS TO 42nd STREET P A night. 8 MILES TO G.W. BR!DGE We could not stand by and allow this precious nefesh to be DAILY PICK UP TO NEW YORK YESHIVA snatched from us. From the depths of our hearts we cried out WEEKLY SHIURIM BY PROMINENT RABBONIM to Hashem. Night after night was spent sleeplessly-learning STABLE AREA, HOUSES FROM $55,000 Torah, davening, pleading for Divine mercy. We appealed to LOWEST TAXES IN BERGEN COUNTY the Talmidei Hayeshivos throughout the world to unite with us. CALL (201) 967·9686 S. STERN-12011967·0605 J. BLUMENTHAL Our tefil!os were answered and Moshe David was granted an extension on lite. ------Ciip.ancisa~,e------Then, on Friday night, the 10th day of Tamuz. Moshe Dovid lay on his hospital bed, barely able to speak. His father sang The Jewish Observer I the "Sholom Aleichim" for him, inviting the heavenly angels 5 Beekman Street/ New York, N.Y. 10038 I into the room, little realizing that the Angel of Death was D One year $9.00 D Two years $17.501 among them, At the age of 19, our friend was tragically torn from our D Three years $25.00 I midst. (Our efforts were described in "Brave New Heroes" in Send Magazine to I The Jewish Observer of Sept. '78.) Name .. We are joining the family in establishing a Free Loan Fund I to perpetuate the memory of their beloved son and brother. By ························ ...... ······· I lending money to Talmidei Chachomim and Bnei Torah in City ...... • StateiZJp ...... need, may we send the zechusim (merits) of this good deed From 1 heavenward, fe'ifui nishmosoi, on behalf of his soui. I Join us in creating the Zlchron Moshe Dovid Free Loan Name. Fund by sending in your contribution. Though cut off from life Address .. ····························· ...... ! in his youth, may Moshe David's memory live forever. Mail Tax-Deductible Contributions to: City.. State/Zip...... I Zlchron Moshe Dovld/c/o Rabbi Harry Ruben .,..0 Enclose gift card 0 Bil/ me: $...... C Enclosed: $ ...... 1 ______I 2114-66th Street, Brooklyn, NY. 11204

The Jewish Observer I December 1978 25 Attention is given in this volume to the conceptual and practical aspects of Shabbos observance; to the Pincus Mandel problems of moral temptation, and the response Renowned Expert - Over 25 years provided by the mussar approach; the meaning of experience in Taharas Hamishpacha (Laws of Family Purity); the K vura on all cemeteries in Eretz Yisrael dignity of the j ew, the potential of teshuva, and the With all Hidurim - as done only by significance of Torah study as a link with eternity. Shomrei Torah Umitzvos More than 1300 quotations from Torah sources provide the basis for the author's treatment of these and many Responsible for current system - speedily related issues. expedited - at Airport in 4 to 5 hours Anvil of Sinai contained a series of charts and chapters to trace the transmission of Torah from Sinai With more than 45 years of cemetery experience to the end of the Gaonim era; the present volume unceasingly dedicated to the highest standards carries the story forward through the period of the of Chesed She+ Emes in all its implications Rishonim and Achronim to our days. A detailed without emphasis on the inyan of bibliography, indices and suggested reading list com­ monetary gain. plete the rich offerings provided by this work. It will undoubtedly be widely and joyfully accepted as a Recommended by Most Prominent source of inspiration and enlightenment to young peo­ Rabbanim and Admorim ple in the quest of the eternal values of Torah. Pincus Mandel 1569 47th St I Brooklyn, N.Y. 11219 DID YOU STUDY TORAH TODAY? Day and Night Phone: (212) 855-5121 There are a thousand reasons wh1.; ifs difficult. hut not one reason \vh1,' it's impossible All bills rendered on actual "Costs-Plus' Basis Let us help you (free of charge) IA·ith No hidden or 'padded' charges 0 a studv group in YOUR home or neighborhood Agudah Member - 50 years D lenrntng 1-1.'hilt YC)U 1,1/?lnt to learn D and 1,1..-hen it's convenient for YOU Or arrange: "A Blessing for Your Home" C ;\persona! "cho\TUsc'' for )·'OU 0 A telephone "chavrusa" . a hidden treasure, a great and marvelous light . All levels of study! Horav Y. Y. Kanievsky, the Steipler Rebbe Call us ot (212 I 964-1620. or ttrite .. edited and annotated by Horav who TORAH EDUCATION NEIWORK can be totally relied upon .. A division of Agudath Israel of America Horav Moshe Feinstein 5 Beekman Street I New York. NY. 10038 Absoh1tely no charge or fee . . . seen by the CHIDA in manuscript form while hidden in an I obscure library ... will bring blessing to your house. L Horav Y. Y. Weiss DON'T GET MARRIED!! TWO CLASSICS BY THE ROKEACH DON'T MAKE Rabbi Elazar of Worms Vol. I Commentary on Torah (Breishis Vol. I) and Seier HaChochma written 750 years ago and never printed. Finally-the treasure was discovered, lovingly transcribed, beautifully printed and I made available.

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26 The Jewish Observer/ December 1978 THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL, A New Translation with a A CALL FOR TORAH STUDY Commentary anthologized from Talmudic Midrashim and Rabbinic sources (Mesorah Publications, New Join the hundreds of Chaverim in the U.S.A., York, 1977; $10.95 hard-cover; 7.95 studenfs edition) Israel and other parts of the world who now enjoy an extra spiritual dimension in Jewish living by learning three halachas and I or two mishnas and This work is yet another volume in the Artscroll I or the weekly sedra every day. Tanach series, and covers the first part of Sefer Yecheskel (chapters 1-20). It follows the general OP~ ,on 7w ~1n P7y llVOJ .,7,7~ .,,in~ po1y;; 7~ pattern of the Artscroll series in offering a new transla­ ·) pi!:l c··:ir.r1'7 n .. n ni:;l:ii1 tion; a detailed commentary based on old and new Rab­ You will gain respect and love from your family binic sources, as well as an introductory overview and become an inspiration to your friends. ("Dirge, Death and Rebirth"). Yet it occupies a unique Ask for your free lu'ach from position in the series-unlike the other volumes that RABBI ELI EZER KARP, Chairman have appeared, it strives to open to our understanding a MISHNA AND HALACHA YOMIT major section of Tanach which otherwise would have 1562 5lst Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219 remained locked with seven seals. Sefer Yecheskel poses a number of barriers to the student. It contains heavenly visions that defy our un­ derstanding. It describes symbolic actions demanded of Now Available the prophet, which on the surface strike us as utterly bizarre. It deals with some of the most difficult philosophical issues faced by a believer. l t discusses a number of historical happenings prior to and during the life of the prophet, which require correlation to dis­ cussions of the same events in other works of Tanach. ISRAEL Burials and An1erican OisinternH:>nts ~"!"'~"" ·,,~·.·:') ll"" ''""' ~ .

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AVAILABLE CHANUKAH! RIVERSIDE THE NEW JEP RECORD r .,:1r · :l [!"'-·-- ': I Featuring. JEP CHOIR j Mordechai Ben David Star Child Soloists Bumy Schachter J80West 76th Si 1.-11 /IT',te~rFi'" Ave '.· Y '~ Y f!i 2 66CG Heshy Grunberger Neginah Orchestra Hilkey Blumstein BROOKLYI~ JlOCcnr~y i:-!anc: r•• ,. n·ir- P,,·k»c:_, il'. P.-_,_-1Jf:''.:'. Pa·I\ Yossi Sonnenb!ick Yisroel Lamm Ali Scharf f)•;,r;\<','".·,y l"l,j?C:.J(:, I Seney Schachter Suki Berry Rivie Schwebel BRONX )g6JG·;ir·cJ(,'.'";r' "J:!-;'.: Jt>-•Sl ·f3·.~n1',;·P· i FA7 7l'JC11 And Ti-'10 '-/'/>->\'.: ""'~!f-r P,·,(''' :·''. :,'.c" 21'-Nc<,\Br•JcJC~St·nc:V: ,,.•ci/''~- 9:4 -',10468C<·, Please send me copies of JEP Presents, SOMEDAY, IWE WILL ALL BE TOGETHER at $5.00 a copy. I have added 50¢ to help cover the cost of mailing and packaging . ITotal$ ------!Mail to: " I JEP RECORDS 425 East 9th Street Brooklyn, N.Y. 11218 • !.£as~ an~ac~able soon_. ______J 27 Yet, like all other prophetic works, the Book of of the prophetic text. Moreover, each chapter has its Yecheskel was included in Tanach because it contained own introduction that explains the theme of the chapter "prophecies needed for all generations." We are and relates it to the book as a whole. therefore deeply indebted to Rabbi Moshe Eisemann When necessary, the author included a special essay, who prepared translation, corr1mentary and (in as a footnote or in the appendix, in order to clarify a collaboration with Rabbi Nosson Scherman) the over­ difficult point; e.g. the circumstances of Zidkiah's view; he thereby has made the teachings of Yecheskel rebellion (ch. 17), the question of whether children are vastly more accessible to us. made to suffer for their parents' sins (ch. 18), the The special difficulties posed by this prophet re­ significance of the prophet's suffering (appendix lll), quired, in fact, a somewhat different approach than in and the identity of the kings mentioned in this book the case of other parts of Tanach. Instead of offering (appendix I). the comments of the rabbis in the form of an Particularly important is his introduction to the anthological collection, Rabbi Eisernann sought to in­ Ma'aseh Merkavah (the description of the "Heavenly tegrate their observations into a unified interpretation Chariot," the Divine Throne). Upon the advice of the Roshei Yeshiva consulted, a translation and sample sum of the classical commentaries concerning Ma'aseh Merkavah is given (together with a warning, repeated on each page, not to take anthropomorphic terms

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28 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 literally); but, beyond this, no attempt is made to ex­ plore its deep~i', implications. Instead, an introductory discussion rel~tes the visions of the Merkavah to the rest of Yecheskel' s prophecies. Not too many commentaries are available on Yecheskel, and Rabbi Eisemann has of course made full use of those that we have from the earliest, such as Rashi and Abarbanel, to the most recent ones, such as the Malbim and ",'o· Rabbi Dr. . In addi­ tion, he has drawn on the Talmudic and later Rabbinic literature in all of its aspects. Thus, for instance, he mines it for its grammatical insights (lbn ]anach), philosophical interpretations (Rambam), historical analysis (Daros Harishonim), and ethical pointers (Rabbi S.R. Hirsch). This work represents a remarkable achievement; it is to be hoped that he will soon present to us the balance of Sefer Yecheskel, and that the public will make the fullest use of the entire work. Tiw {\'ew J.E.P. ALEPH-BAIS WORKBOOK

HANUKKAH CRAFTS, by Joyce Becker, Hebrew Illustmted by Toviu Ganz

Publishing Co., 1978 ($9.95 hard cover, $6.95 soft Every page. a cover) Over 130 vivirl differ~nt ]ptter humorous cartoon ,,1 the Aleph-Bais

Arts and crafts by rights should occupy an important place in our educational efforts. They provide an op­ portunity to associate our youngsters with the preparations for and the spirit of our mitzva observance and enable them to join in hiddur mitzva-the loving beautification of the mitzvos. The present volume (available both in hard and soft cover) presents over 200 projects and through easy-to­ follow directions and very clear diagrams and il­ lustrations. Some are quite difficult, but most are easily done. The different sections of the book deal with Actual size menorot, dreidlach, tablesettings, decorations, games Foll 11 x 1i and plays as well as the making and wrapping of gifts. The author mentions in her introduction that in her Pt US Fun Pages to review and home, Chanukah giving consisted of Chanukah gelt. reinforce pr~vious leosons !''""''''" ,,,.,,,, f:lll'il' This is indeed the traditional Jewish custom; the giving ll"" 'h )• 'lw' of other gilts has become increasingly popular, it has The j.E.P Workbook is by far the most important addition to a child's library. Now children of all ages have lhe opportunity lo learn and enjoy the been suggested, to keep up with the outside world. The Aleph Bais through colorful and imaginative illustrations A proven success. reader may well choose not to make use of the gift this book caplures 1he children's attention for ho11rs and hours. suggestions for Chanukah; he or she can readily adapt them to other occasions in the year. The fact is that with a minimum of changes, prac­ ~25 E. 91h STREET tically all the techniques and projects here presented are ~:0"->N. Hom easily put to use as arts and crafts ideas for the rest of the year; teachers in particular will therefore find this book most valuable. One note of caution should be r------,I J:t:'~~~~~~:T I added in connection with the author's suggestions for I BROOKLYN, t'l<.Y. 11216 I making mezuzah cases, with the parshios to be bought. I I Obviously, great caution must be used to buy kosher I I parshios-a problem faced whenever ornamental cases I I I ~·,,,,, .. ,.! o,~""''"''"" ------··~--... ______are purchased or made; secondly, the self-made case I should be made large enough to accommodate reliably I - I written parshios; and these should be wrapped in Saran I I wrap before insertion into these make-shift cases. 13,

The Jewish Observer I December 1978 29 second looks at the jewish scene

A Dirge for Shabbos in Baro Park

Shabbos is made for Bora Park. On 2 Kislev-December 2, that is It's the day when G-d rests from -Shabbos was shattered and so was CREATORS II His creative labors, and so do His Boro Park. And the result has been children. Boro Park, with its close to deeply saddening. c~:~: 11111 100,000 Jewish inhabitants, its 50 Irving Sussman, an elderly PHOTOGRAPHY II yeshivas and girls' schools, tens of plumber had his life slashed by an Kosher butcher shops and bakeries, assailant's knife in the heart of Boro 623 CORT EL YOU ROAD scores of ritual baths, builds up to a (Off OCEAN PKWY) Park. As the news of his tragic end SRQO)(LYN. N.Y. 11218 crescendo of frantic Friday spread from shul to shul, Shabbos preparations, then zips off its work was shattered. And with it, the illu­ clothes and slips into fur-lined sion that Boro Park was an enclave WEDDINGS 8AR'·MITZVAH5 tranquility for Shabbos, and the of tranquility in a profane city. (212) 941-5500. people repair to the several hundred Traffic arteries connect it with the houses of worship. death flow from contiguous pockets The Jewish Patient's Bill of Rights• Bora Park is made for Shabbos. of darkness. published by Agudath Israel pl The steel curtain is rung down on It was saddening march for the .Ametita1 is. nbw pOicyir'l at le.ast.one the weekday with the shuttering of thousands who responded to a call­ hospital. We want mote hospitals to the stores on its busy avenues. from where, no one knew. But the · d6 .the same. It is importi>nl that. we. Followed by the quieter rush to the call was issued, so they came to give inteMew people 111ho have receJ'Jlly , yeshivas, and the vent to their dismay by presenting ' shtiebel'ach to daven ... the themselves at the doorsteps of those spent some. timesJ>ital. l~· dividuals who ~"\' pr~~

30 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 crowd of innocent bystanders, rup­ And violence also finds its way into crowd's countenance with ugly mob turing docility, with hostility and the Jewish psyche through some action? Has the brutality of the 60's anger spewing out in its stead. unguarded backdoor. "Merciful, made its belated entry into Torah Angry fists beat a tattoo of defiance charitable, modest people," totally Jewry, on the threshold of the so's? on a car hood, and police too readily abhorrent of destructive acts, Has the media's message glorifying swing their clubs. Hot heads possessing a full vocabulary of confrontation politics finally shattering the letter of Shabbos law responses with which to greet every broken through centuries of in the wake of its broken spirit, billy situation-but never violence. How resistance? Who ever dignified clubs brutally respond, and inno­ then did the rowdy few ever become violence as a respectable Jewish cent Jewish blood spurts out. infested with it to contort the option?-lrresponsible rabble- No leader at the helm of the demonstration, so the beast in an isolated few raises its head and takes charge, inviting the wrath of the very men whose favor they should court . . . throwing 2,000 years of golus experience into hurricane winds, inviting retaliation instead of succor. Riot police enter the precinct house through a back door and restore order by smashing disorder on convenient Jewish skulls

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The Jewish Observer I December 1978 31 ·i. ------

Better than. Chanukah Ge/ti O.AreHurl:, ln.cludi~ 62 Officers The. NewesfLCS. Publication As HllSidim $torm·aPolice Statio.

The Story ofChanulnt of this incident, featured in Every conscientious Jew is care- 201.-363'4210 The Jewish Week of December 10, 1978, is 1ul not to steal or damage other worthy of a close reading. people's property, Ch"V. How­ Please add 50¢ postage for each mail•order ever, we o1ten borrow seforim and PERFIDY 1orget to return them-in ef1ect, robbing the owner and some­ BEN HECHT times inter1ering with his Torah Original book now available ,study. This matter is unfortunately Mail $11 Check or Money Order !treated very lightly, but it involves Enjoy II II .. FREE BOOK 1actual transgressions. We there­ fore ask all readers to check their Eat in "The Holocaust Victims Accuse" With Order seforim and to return those 11 ~: good health! belonging to others (i1 they don't .!l'Q t,\. TO VICTOR VICTOR ,*' <· \ ' 1',. remember the owner, they should 1671 East 7th Street ask a shaila). In the merit o1 this we .-·V· , Brooklyn, N .Y. 11230 should see the 1ul1illment ot the :f:1~':·.~ (212) 998-4935 assurance of the------Torah.

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32 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 The Nobel Laureate: Now available nationwide · airlines. cruises, hotels, schools, Not Our Lyrics, Not Our Singer conventions and hospitals. SUPERIOR The world took note of the award Whose Yiddish? QUALITY of the Nobel Prize for Literature to Those who selected Singer for the · Glatt Kosher dinners produced Isaac Bashevis Singer as recognition award claimed that they had found in ultra modern, Government granted a Jewish writer. Yes ... but in his works the last vestiges of a inspected, sanitary facilities not really. He writes in Yiddish, yes. world quickly disappearing. They His stories are peopled by Jews liv­ were right, but not in a way that SUPERIOR ing their bizarre lives in a distinc­ calls for honors. The works of tively Jewish environment-in Singer can best be described by the KASH RUT shtetlach of old, in pre-war War­ words he selected to depict his Chasidic shech1ta and saw, on New York City's Upper chosen language of expression­ cholov yisroel exclusively, and West Side, in Israel ... true. But not Yiddish, which he ungraciously shomer shabbos ownership a Jewish impression of Jews living described as a "dying language ... their lives as Jews. losing readers from day to day." The demons and goblins that in­ That is very apt for the language of SUPERIOR habit his stories, the eroticism that the Yiddishists who conceive of SCHREIBER pervades their atmosphere, the total their Jewishness as a folk nationali­ Schreiber Kosher Caterers, Inc. absence of a sense of shame and ty, not different in its individuality 9024 Fostf'r Ave, Brooklyn. NY l l 236 modesty that marks his narratives­ from that of any other sub-national Phonf' f2!2) 272·9184 they derive from another source, group, with the Yiddish language as not the traditional Jewish ex­ its main distinguishing perience. Thus the Yiddish he characteristic. (Once your sense of writes is the Yiddish of assimilation being different is identical to

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The Jewish Observer I December 1978 33 j ' everyone else's, you end up very speaking population is the Yeshiva t much as everyone else, deep down.) community. Thirty years ago, Thus, in regard to the Yiddish of American yeshiva bachurim, who the Second Avenue theatres in New were struggling to understand their York, and of the Socialist Daily European born and educated Roshei \i).,\\i\ i~'O Forward, Singer is right; the Yeshiva, were looked upon as Last language is disappearing. Most of the Mohicans. Today, second anyone from the Yiddish speaking generation "Mohicans" are listen­ Sefer generation who was bent on ing to Shiurim delivered in Yiddish HaChinuch assimilating has succeeded by now, by American born and educated and his offspring has no use for Roshei Yeshiva, and a third genera­ Yiddish. And as for the grand­ tion is close at their heels. The Book of children of the staunch Yiddishists No one is placing bets on the Mitzvah Education -there are very, very few second fourth generation. "Yeshivish" - generation students in the Shalom Yiddish stems more from English ascribed to Rabbi Aaron HaLevi Aleichem Schools. It is thus highly and American roots than Teutonic of Barcelona. unlikely that many young poeple ones. In Israel, also, Yiddish is The Hebrew text (with gradually being pushed into the anywhere are devouring Singer in n'kudoth) based on the first edi­ the original. It is indeed a "dying corner-by Ivrit. But no matter. tion (Venice 1523) compared language ... losing readers day to Yiddish was never considered a goal with four old manuscripts, with day." unto itself by either Chassidim or an English translation and notes, There are other Yiddish-speakers the Yeshiva population. It has been by Charles Wengrow and -readers, however, and they hallowed by a use that may place have little interest in Singer and his emphasis of the vehicle of expres­ Vol. I Genesis and Exodus sion, but puts much more on the world-in any language. These in­ The author arranged the 613 clude the users of Yiddish in the values and knowledge being con­ mitzvahs under the heading of veyed. Thus, the goal dignifies and Chassidic world, whose ranks are each Sedrah in that particular growing year by year. Not through sanctifies the medium. portion, explaining the reason Tor ah studied and Tor ah lived winning converts, mind you; nor as and purpose for each precept. a result of the new ethnic chic; but are eternal, and as long as they This edition provides an accurate by simple "internal migration" -a employ Yiddish, with all the text of this classic-the most cor­ high birth rate, and a higher reten­ spiritual baggage it brings along, rect to appear thus far-with full Yiddish is alive. It is Singer's Yid­ tion rate than most other Jewish vowel marks (m'nukad), plus a I communities. dish that is groaning in its death faithful translation on facing Another segment of the Yiddish- throes. ~'i. pages, and full references as well as full explanatory notes. A NEW FIRST BY FELDHEIM. A beautiful volume 450 pages $13.95 SAIS YAAKOV ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL OF QUEENS We have now published a new, Kew Gardens, New York thoroughly corrected edition of Announces the i't\i'\))' J1'1'9J\ \\'i'\1 with English translation and ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS-1979-80 commentary by Rabbi Samson OUT-OF-TOWN STUDENT PROGRAM for a select group of students. Raphael Hirsch Housing in suitable homes in Suburbr 764 pages BAIS YAAKOV HIGH SCHOOL aim~ large deluxe edition 6V2x- 9" Bas Torah equipped to meet the chi $15.00 small compact edition on Bible For additional informa paper 5Vzx8" $10.00 Mr. Daniel Sukenik Rabbi Moshe N President Elem. Princii PHIUIPP FELDHEIM INC. Administrat 98 EAST BROADWAY, NY, 10002

34 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 were already asleep at that late hour Letters to the Editor and had to be awakened. All three promised to deliver the contents of the telegram to the respective authorities dealing with such matters. Li The Russians never favoured us with a reply. The Americans in­ formed us that the bridges did not lie within their territorial sphere of activities; and the English sent us The American Auschwitz Answer 60,000 Jews were transported week­ ly to Auschwitz where they were all the following response: "We are conducting the war on a strategic To the Editor: exterminated. These transports, and not a humanitarian basis (sic)." I would like to make the follow­ however, could be delayed by at ing comments to Lewis Brenner's least six months by the bombard­ ANNOUNCING- ment of two strategic bridges whose article "Why Auschwitz Was Never A new special group of Bnos. Bombed" (Jewish Observer, May, location were indicated in detail in Agudath Israel servicing ·retarded. 1978), as it is not true that the the telegram. Prompted by the girls exclusively, under .the leader, Americans never gave a reply to the urgency of the situation, Rabbi ship of a marificha with profession­ request of Mr. Sternbuch. Yitzchok Sternbuch OB'M, the al training in Special Education, In August, 1944, the Nazis had president of our organization, meeting every Shabbos afternoon at begun mass deportation of travelled by train to Bern on Friday the Bais Yaakov High School build­ Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz. Ac­ evening, although it was already ing-:-442.1-15th Avenue, Brooklyn. customed already to annihilation Shabbos, to meet together with a For more information, call: tactics, the world at large took little member of the Polish Legation, the "Snani" at 964-1B20 or write: Bnos notice. (I was at the time Executive military attaches of Great Britain, Agudath lsrael/5 BMkman Streetr Director of the Vaad Hahatzala of USA and USSR, who incidentally, NYC 10038: the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the U.S.A. and Canada, with head­ A SELF-CONTAINED LIBRARY of TORAH quarters in Switzerland.) As may be HASHKAFAH known, this was a relief organiza­ tion whose aim was to rescue as Special Chanukah discount: many Jews as possible from the Challenge of Sinai (15°/o); Anvil of Sinai (10°/o). hands of the Nazis. We were es­ Special Bonus: Free slipcase in­ pecially successful in rescuing from cluded on combined orders of both Theresienstadt concentration camp Anvil and Challenge of Sinai. 1200 Jews, who were brought to *(Anvil supply limited) ,------Switzerland. Our organization also I Hashkafah Publications took part in the rescue operation of I 68-61 Selfridge St. approximately 160 Jews who . Forest Hills, N.Y. 11375 I (212) 261-6076 arrived into Switzerland from Hungary via Bergen-Belsen. I Please send me the following at your I Chanukah discount pr'1ce. One Friday morning we received i a coded telegram from l D Anvil of Sinai, $8.05 ($8.95 l'ist price) I 0 Challenge of Sinai, 644 pp. ·1n I vol .. Czechoslovakia, from Rabbi I CHALLENGE of SINAI $10.15 ($11.95 list price) Michael Ber Weissmandl, who was i 644 Pages I D Challenge of Sinai, deluxe ed., 2 well known for his work in the un­ I ANVIL OF SINAI I vols., $11.85 ($13.95 .list price) derground. We learned later that · 464 Pages I Offer expires Feb. 15, 1979 the telegram had been sent through Iby Rabbi Zechariah Fendel Enclosed find check for $ ... the intermediary efforts of a IA COMPREHENSIVE ORIGINAL Minister of the Czechoslovakian WORK-OVER 1100 PAGES Name ... cabinet, since at that time all Jews • Eight years of intensive research • Ov. er had either been deported or were in 2500 annotated source references • Over f Address ... hiding. We did not have the exact I, 60 original Charts of Torah Transmission •Elaborate Appendices and Explanatory I City/State/Zip . key to decipher the code, so we I Notes • Coded Name Index-almost I spent about 10 hours "translating" 2.000 names • Extensive Source and Please add $1.00 to cover postage and 1Subject Indices •History of Torah Trans~ handling. Please add applicable sales I the contents of the telegram. Rabbi 1 Weissmandl informed us that 50- I mission-Mattan Torah______to Present. _.._ tax. ------_J

The Jewish Observer I December 1978 35 Zevulun-type roles, supporting compensate. Thus, the Rambam others in their Torah studies, gain­ writes, if a tree is crooked, one must ing a share in the merit of their bend it in the opposite direction; LETTERS CONTINUED "partners' "efforts. then it will eventually grow On the other hand, a question straight. Seeing the tree so bent, a How many thousands of looms, and not only in my imagina­ person may err in thinking that the Hungarian Jews could have been tion. I've heard several yeshiva. tree was meant to grow this way. saved if the English had thought of bachurim express it: Why knock This may explain my apparent more humanitarian considerations! your head against the wall in trying overstatement in favor of the I doubt if we would have received to learn the difficult texts, then go Zevuluns. The Zevulun role has the same answer if it had been a home to the classical chayei tzar been suffering from neglect, yet it is question of English citizens rather tich'ye (life of pain and stress as in one that has widespread potential than Hungarian Jews. Avos VI, 4). Jump in to the business for fulfillment. But by no means is HERMAN LANDAU scene, enjoy a comfortable conven­ his role more desirable or easier to , Ontario tional life, put a Yissachar on your fill than is Yissachar's. payroll and live it up in both I certainly do recognize the On Becoming a Zevulun worlds. primacy of the Yissachar role. Silly? But that's what your ar­ Perhaps the following parable may To the Editor: ticles seem to be saying. demonstrate the relative importance I very much appreciate Aryeh DAVID RISIKOFF of the one to the other: Kaplan's articles on the various Brooklyn, New York An architect once visited a land types of Yissachar-Zevulun where the people built their houses arrangements that are possible on very weak foundations, with the ("The Partnership," January '78, ·-r The Primacy of the Yissachar Role result that many houses collapsed. and "Who Shall Render the The author replies: He lectured the people on the im­ Decisions?" June '77). I'm sure that portance of setting solid foun­ they have succeeded in inspiring In correcting a faulty situation, dations. He later saw a man tearing some laymen into assuming there is usually a need to over- down his house. When asked why, the man replied, "I am going to NEW;.;;.;From .. DOV DOV! build a foundation." Whether you give ?nevolume or a set, DOV DOV BOOKS are perfect gifts !or As important as a foundation is, Chanukah, simcha presents, achievement rewards . , . for your children, grand­ it is meaningless unless it supports a children, neighbor's ehildren, nephews,. nieces or any c!)Hd you love .. house. The same is true of the Now Spt1plalbelbre Ji:in. 3j, oqmait orders only, buy 5 volumes for$10, Zevulun role. Its function is to :getJhe 6th volufO~ !n'!e, Single! volumes $2.00 apiece. · provide the foundation for Yissachar. Some.eomments on O(IV bO\f. .--.,.,~~~.:..--~-..;;..""""~ Some thirty years ago, in the old "Moving, wellwriffen.'' . \\'-..... -~' ' Dov Dov . : '" Camp Mesifta in Ferndale, NY, I "Wonderful" -'-'-·_\,and the Pushkanap "Really- terrific'' and other stories asked a question similar to Mr. 1 by Vona Weinberg ~ Epstein's of Rabbi Yaakov "Bfav01' ~ II>.\·. , ._-11 Kamenetzky K''tl'~11J He replied by "Creates. a Shal>bps atmosphere" "' " , ~···1•_·_~.__ i 'i'The ultiin8.ttf'' , ' -- quoting the Gemora, "The world 1 cannot exist without a perfumer or "Excellent'' 1 a tanner." (Kiddushin 82b). Still, 0 So real and interesting" , 'if'iliti~~ the Talmud states that "happy is "First'class" a~·,.,:,,.•i".I the perfumer, and woe to the "Really something great" 1'111~~§?, tanner." (In ancient times, the tan­ .Other ,DOV DOV BookS ning process produced a terrible • The Magic .World of DOV DOV odor that clung to those who • DOV.DOV on the Moon worked in it.) • A Home}Jun lrJr DOV DOV Drawings by The building of the Mishkan • {1Jinety7nine tor DOV DOV Esther Lefkowitz (Tabernacle) required the services • The Diamonds of both the tanner and the per­ fumer. If the tanner worked for the Send $2.00per book; $10.00 Pf!' set to: sake of Heaven, his reward may DOV POV PUBLICATIONS have been even greater than that of 6203 Blltrnore. Avenue, .Baltimore, Md. 21215 the perfumer. Nonetheless, (301) 358;986:4 wherever he went, he carried with

36 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 some authorities, their partnership you will be a prosperous @ n must be on a 50-50 basis with businessman living on a marginal Zevulun giving Yissachar half his income. LETTERS CONTINUED income to share in the spiritual And, if you are entering the reward. business world to avoid the chayei him the aroma of his trade. Besides being financially tzar of the Torah scholar, just how To the yeshiva bachur who challenging, this can be emotionally great is your own commitment to desires to "jum-p into the business difficult, which brings me to a se­ Torah in the first place? Is it great scene, to become a Zevulun," I cond question-one of deter­ enough for you to be a Zevulun? would ask: are you sure that you mination: Will you have the will The true Zevuluns whom I have will have the means to do so? Being power and stamina to become a a Zevulun-in the full sense of the Zevulun? In the business world, word-means totally supporting a ideals tend to evaporate very rapid­ Torah scholar. Will you have the ly. Consider: if you are making EV 7-1750 resources necessary to give away $30 ,000 a year, will you be willing ~,,.,.,e "":~e some $15,000 a year? According to to give away half of it? It means that 1~'trt.,"'C 1"!t_( "'C;~'t:'t"':'"i'~l':~ A reminder to· readers of The Jewish .Observer· who are concerned with k!al Yisroef's futurel • those. who were Impressed with Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan'sarticle, "Who Shall Render Decisions'? The Training of Poskim" (June 78), in which .he described Jhe visionary undertaking· of Mechon HahoyrC>'a-bUfdid notknowwhat steps to take to join hits work; • those Wh() were inspireifby Mettion HatioyrC>'a's two-page notice Jn the. SeptE!rnber issue, detaillng thel\llection's accomplishments, featuring the fetters of approbation by the Gaon/m: HoravReb.Moshe Feinstein,K"tri'nu, and Horav .RebYaakov Kaminetsky K''~•7w.butpostponed responding to.the appeal for help; • those who responded to the notice, and would like to to so again: Mechl>n Hahoyl'o•a V\las6r1tanized by a group of Mechori Hal!oyro'a al yedei Kole! tarbitze laymen with the lolli:)wing goals: (for Ashkenazim) in Geula, Jervsalem • A ripple effect from Mechon Hahoyro'a has • Providing klal Yisraet \llJilh qlJaiilied Posl!im, fully reached many other yesffivos and kolelim, .inspiringthe knowledgeable ir'Hhe Four Sections .)lf ShulchanAruch, setting of Jong-range goals and .the introd.uction of more with immediate attentlo.n Ip- mastery of. the two more substantial stipends .in these. other institutions. neglected sections: . Choshen Mis~pat .(dealing .with we ln'llte you to do "Che.ssed" with Hashem buslness law) and Even HaEZer (/;a/achos re-Jating to Yl$bptach! marriage and divorce)...... G-d hai chosen for Himself In t'1ts world. the four • Creating Kolelim speciflcall)I geared to this pur· .. "ells" al. Halat:ha. po~eSubsidizing advanced s:chol~rs .in ex.isling Kolelfrri Sy conttibqting. to Mechon Hahoyrp'a, you will ...,-offering them .encourageme-nt. and .. guidance, cC>or" enjarge G~d's domain in this world, for every dollar you dinating their study programs with the structured; hlg.h- Qive · wlfl be directed. to a ne\iV .Yissa.char="""'to support standard. ·syllabus 01· Mec:hon Hahovro'as· tnree one more scholar in his study of .Halacha. K0~1 /61·m . . Without your contribution, fen will be donel •• Promoting the emergence of Sephardic Morel Join Us! Hoyroa (experts in TOr!i!h .Lew) lnEretz Yrsroel; to lead MECHON HAHOYRO' A SephardicK.ehi//Os-withcomp1et(ilindepe-nde.rrcefrom Po B 371/Monsey, NY 10952

any politic. a. f. party p-.r .governme-nt bure-aucr!!Cy. Gentlemen: Aclilevelllen. Uhu. tar: I am interested in enrolling in the Mechon as a Zevu/un: 9 • with my contribution of $ • 43 lild1Jan9e-d 'talrnudic scholars are- currently un- • with a regular monthly contribution of $ _____ der MeQhpn. Hahyoro'a. programs, .including 30 men • kindly send me reprint(s) of the article "Who under. 10-ye-ar contra-cts to. complete the e-nlire Four Shall Render Decisions?". Sections oftheShulcnan. Aruch .. ·. · . • Foundin~ •. guidanceral'ld. support qf Name~------Mecho11 Hahoyro•.a, in MC>n$e"y, N. y, Address------­ M"echorl ·Jolahoyr6"•~ .• ar yede/Yeshivatti .Aha\lath .Shalom City/State/Zip (for SephardimJ in Geli1a, J.e-rusalem (Mechon Hahoyro'a is a tax exempt organization)

The Jewish Observer I December 1978 37 TT

LETTERS CONTINUED

known devote many hours a day to A Treasury of Reading Material for your Home their own Torah studies. Most have spent years in themselves­ Each an !hr V'eim B'Yisroel of highest calibre: Their providing them with the commit­ respective history, great personalities. Rabbis and com­ • munity leaders-in their glory as well as in their destruction. ment to Torah to willingly divide PRESSBURG Each vividly perpetuated before your eyes, with pictures and their income with a Yissachar. One illustrations. !n the two latest issues ot the renowned, ever-popular Orthodox Zevulun of my acquaintance is a Yiddish Monthly, Dos Ylddishe Vort. millionaire many times over. Yet he The latest issues of Dos Yiddishe Vort also contain a wealth of other fascinat­ lives in a very modest house and ing articles. Dos Ylddlshe Vort-a treasury of reading material not to be tound drives a modest car. From outward anywhere else. appearances, one could never guess Single copies $2 each Annual subscription $9 at his wealth. \f you are not yet a subscriber to Dos Ylddishe Vort, as an introductory offer There is another important prin­ you pay only $7 (instead of $9) for the first year. You will also receive com­ ciple that you must also realize. If pletely free an illustrated special issue dealing with the late Gerer Flebbe Zt"I you have the opportunity to learn after his passing in Jerusalem last year {$2 value) as well as the special Oc­ Torah successfully, it is highly tober issue on Vienna, and the November issue on Pressburg. questionable if you are permitted to Pleae use coupon below. leave it. One cannot go into the DOS YIDDISHE VORT business world for many years and 5 Beekman Street/New York, N.Y. 10038/(212) 964-1620 then be a Zevulun. D Enclosed please find $2 tor the special Vienna issue D Enclosed please !ind $2 for the special Pressburg Issue D Enclosed please find $2 for the special Issues about the late Gerer Flebbe 0i'K~ 0i1n JD~ '"~1 MACHON TORAH MEIRAH D Enclosed please find $7 for my subscription to Dos Yiddishe Vort. Please 17 Twekesbury Drive send me absolutely free the issue about the Gerer Rebbe, 1/"~i and the Prestwich, Manchester, England special Vienna and Pressburg issues. Works by Name------Rabbi Meir Meir! (Feuerwerger) 7">:1 C'tvl l11TY This volume is a key to City/State/Zip I the many problems arising out of the impact of present-day conditions on Marriage and' • Gift to the above from ------~_J ,------, Divorce: Civil Marriages; Gittin al T'nai by a ls your name and address printed incorrectly on the JO mailing lobe!? soldier before joining the Forces; the Agunah problem in the future; Kiddushim al Tnal; the Are you moving? Help us deliver your JO to you as efficiently as possi- I status of the educated deaf-mute in Jewish ble. Please attach current mailing label in space below; or else print clear· I Law. All these problems are dealt with by the ly your address as we now have it. learned author with caution and erudition, I Name and Formularies are appended in connec­ tion with each subject. VOL. 3 Address ... This is truly an Encyclopaedic work, and is City. State, Zip .. of an exceptionally high standard as regards content, style and methods of presentation. Print your correct (or new) narne and address here: 3 Vols. (Hebrew) $12.50 Name .. 3 Vols. ;;i'NIJ ;;;in 1V1J1n Ni'I .1? l? .n'IVN;:; Address .. Comprehensive compilation of Classical City. State. Zip .... ! commentaries on each word and sentence of Mail to: the Pentateuch, an Encyclopaedic work. Specially recommended for Rabbis, I The Jewish Observer Teachers and Laymen. I 5 Beekman St/N.Y.C 10038 L ______....J 3 Vols. (Hebrew) $12.50

38 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 Young Yerushalmi is in bed with C"M f!lMM IZ''NM '~ heart trouble. His 5 children wore Ml HAISH HACHOFETZ CHAIM ( torn shoes this last Yorn Tov. Join the thousands of Bnei Torah world over I LETTERS CONTINUED Could you help to make their who daily learn two Halachos of the seler ' Chanukah brighter? Chofetz Chaim and derive therefrom great\ Kindly send tax deductible dona­ benefit and satisfaction. A pocket luach ind·1cat'1ng the daily Hala­ If you are contemplating leaving tion to: chos including tfilos on shmiros ha/ashon the yeshiva to become a Zevulun, "Ateres Yisroel and ma'amrei Ghazal is available on request. you must be ready to take a Bikur Cholim Fund" c/o \ Send stamp~d. ~dE~~e;~~~ envelope to: J Yissachar partner. Otherwise your 1 Rabbi Avrohom Blumenkrantz I situation is one of bari ve-shema­ 814 Caffrey Avenue giving up something certain for a Far Rockaway, N.Y. 11691 L_:~6:45th St-~r:o:y:~~y-:~--- questionable gain. i In summary, neither course is easy. Both are fraught with dif­ ficulties. But both provide un­ imaginable rewards. One must select his role-in accordance with 40? 50? his G-d-given gifts and his personal situation-with a deep sense of com­ You're nottoo old to start a new careert mitment. (Rabbi) ARYEH KAPLAN FRESH START If you 're over 40 and otlt ofa job or without a career - Religion-Compulsivity Article-­ TRAINING Too Technical Project COPE's new spetial PRQGMM program may do the follow­ To the Editor: ing for you: Dr. Mermelstein's article ("Piety, Psychology and the Parent Power," 1. Provide you with Guidance and Counseling Sept. '78) seems well thought out and carefully researched. I'm sure it 2. Etrroll you in a training program had an audience somewhere-but I {al On,Job'Training don't think it's your typical JO (bl Vocational Education reader, including yours truly. First of all, I fail to understand . 3 .. Help you With English, Bookkeeping or Math his basic premise. According to Dr. 4. Give you a stipend while you learn Mermelstein's diagnosis, people who perform mitzvos compulsively 5. Find you a new job and a new career are not engaged in Jewish conduct H ypu 9ualify,: .call or write.: Fresh Start (the chicken soup phenomenon in the author's metaphor). Now, the new_ special office of Project COPE besides the usual list of positive CareerOpportunities .and Preparation for Employment kavanos one must bear in mind in A Dillision of Agudath Israel of America accordance with the directives of the Shulchan Aruch and Kisvei 5218 - 16th Avenue HaAriZal, is a person accountable Brooklyn, New York 11219 for weeding out his unconscious negative motivations? Granted, evil 851-0333 designs bear evil fruit. But, then, why not venture a bit deeper than For all otherProjectCOPE programs, contact the office into the unconscious and delve nearest you or call <>Ut main office at 5 Beekman Street. down to the neshama level? Doesn't the simple act of performing a mitz­ . N.Y;C. (212) 964-1300 vah have beneficial spiritual results, improving the person, regardless of freSh-_ Start 'Trainin-9 j::i;ogratn is funded by th~ New York 'State Dept o( Labor, Manpower Secretariiit under 'the -comprehensive Employment and Tralnlng Act Title I. his mixed motives? Does a person

The Jewish Observer I December 1978 39 sure that you'll get a different set of about everything he writes-in @ responses in Riverdale than in various mussar seforim: namely, a Lakewood. the charge to be If there is validity in Dr. examine the motivations behind LETTERS CONTINUED Mermelstein's article, let it be for one's seemingly good deeds. The the AOJS members to decide, only difference is that Dr. Mermels­ who shakes a lulav and esrog out of provided that they, like his gadol­ tein employed modern technological compulsion fulfill his obligation-or rebbe-Torah therapist, are equally terms, which made the old truths doesn't he? If he does, but is also familiar with both Freud and Luzat­ seem very novel. beset by psychological problems­ to (lehavdil). As an ordinary JO This is not a criticism. For after so be it, as far as concerns me (and reader, I find myself fascinated-as all, even Luzatto's classic Mesilas other JO readers), as long as he does by a glorious display of Yeshorim only restates old truths­ his mitzvah. Let the psychologists pyrotechnics, but frightened for the but in a way that makes the reader worry about his problems, in their safety of those who stand too close sit up and take notice. own professional journal. Which and are not cautious enough to han­ I imagine that The Jewish brings me to another point. dle with care. Observer was a target of criticism It would seem as though Dr. YERACHMJEL WAGNER for printing such a "daring" article. Mermelstein is writing the script for East Meadow, LI May I commend you for your those only too anxious to fault peo­ courage, while thanking you for the ple "frumer" than they are. He New Insights in "Piety ..." public service you performed. catalogues all the extremes of com­ ELIY AHU MUNK pulsivity and super pseudo-piety, To the Editor: Brookyn, NY conveniently providing the pro­ I read Dr. Mermelstein's article fessional lingo and labels for the on "Piety, Psychology and Parent the norms, beyond which lie the Power" several times, and dis­ Mermelstein: "Daring, Yet Emes" covers himself quite adequately, covered new insights with each warning the reader that "extreme reading. caution is in order for more than At first, it was with the shock of To the Editor: one reason." He then takes care to recognition that his points hit Dr. Mermelstein has opened my cast suspicions only on those who home, for more often than one cares eyes in explaining the many deeds repeat words in Krias Shema "to a to admit, one performs a mitzvah and actions that though clearly evil, pathological extreme." But who sets (or prompts one's children to do so) unsocial, unhuman and un­ the norms, beyond which lie the for less than holy motives. m1'ntshlich are yet performed with Mermelstein-compulsive extremes? During a subsequent reading, I religious fervor in the name of Is it one time or forty times? I'm realized that I had already read just "Yiddishkeit." Through his precise use of language, and with remarkable clarity of thought and insight, Dr. Mermelstein has explained in sim­ ple terms the pasuk "For the ways of G-d are straight. The righteous ATTENTION MECHANCHIM will go in them and the ni:i10 n1• o transgressors will stumble over ACTIVITY PROGRAM Hebrew Academy of Publication Department offers them" (Hoshea XIV: 10). That P""&< ~Onl0<0> Torah life is used by many as a Counll<'> • 55 educational items for '°<•• & M""''"" battleground for conflict, as an out­ '"'Ao 011«1•"' Hebrew Day Schools M'4<>• P«>g""' let for idiosyncrasies, as an escape fo• """" > 6 • Curricular manuals, guides. from our life's realities, and as a • Workbooks justification of clear wrongdoings. • Visual aids, maps, and many others In my view and in the view of all in our Kehila, Dr. Mermelstein Catalogue sent upon request deserves the highest accolade, and Send 75¢ for handling to: :l.. <1<>1••·~ your magazine is to be commended Oo•<"<'M~0$1'Ho HEBREW ACADEMY for exhibiting the courage of prin­ PUBLICATIONS DEPT. ting such daring, yet emes and 1860 South Taylor Rd. down-to-earth articles. Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118 MILTON BICKMON London, England

40 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 Furthermore, all of us-through the Torah and (lehavdil) literature are airing of thoughts on motivation­ replete with examples of how iden­ n may be propelled to do some soul­ tical material is used, construed, and searching and refine our Torah misconstrued in very different and LETTERS CONTINUED behavior to become even more frequently diametrically opposite lishmo (pure in motivation). And ways. That, then, is a function of Post Script finally, this article may lend itself as the beholder or reader, not the by an example for honest discussions producer. Dr. Mermelstein without attacking anyone or ascrib­ Dr. JACOB MERMELSTEIN My own reservations and con­ ing sinister motivations to anyone, cerns lest some of the notions ex­ where none exist. pressed in my article be misused or What cannot be done is to give a Editorial Note misconstrued were explicitly stated quickie course in the "Fifth In response to a number of in­ in the text. To assuage the anguish Shulchan Aruch" or in norms, in qumes: the delightful artistic of those concerned with this, I will order to help those unenlightened to renderings accompanying Rabbi now also state the reasons why this see the difference between one or Feuer's article "The Art of risk has been taken. forty readings of the Shema; or, Celebration" in the October Jewish There are homes being broken by how far introspection should go­ Observer were taken from Tully individuals who harass their loved i.e., when insight ends and one Fi/mus' Selected Drawing (p. 20 of ones in the name of Yiddishkeit. begins to "krich into neshamos." JO) and Lionel S. Reiss's A World There are numerous recorded cases While one cannot offhand see at Twilight (pp. 21-23). The two where compulsivity-including any harm in shaking one's lulav books were the subject of a review "compulsively," I and many of my such as may begin with ostensibly article in the June '72 Jewish "simple religious rituals"-has colleagues have seen those literally Observer. deteriorated into incapacitating imprisoned by their Krias Shema anxiety and/or psychotic reactions and incapacitated by their perfor­ STATEMENT or OWNERSHIP. MANAGEMENT with suicidal tendencies. mances of other endless bedikos AND C!RCULAT!ON {Act of October 23, 19oZ Section 436Q, Title 39. United States Code) Not everyone is inclined to con­ and self-searchings in the context of 1 Date of Filing- Oct. 17. 1977 sult psychotherapists, nor is religious rituals. This list could go 2_ T•tle of Publication; The Jewish Observer J Frequency of l%u~: Monthly. Plt~I answer countless she'eilos of in­ my views with my colleagues, and Amount 11f Bond>, Mortgages or other Securitie5: Non,. 9_ The purpose, funrtion, and nonprofit status of thi~ dividuals, thinking they are dealing with even greater hesitancy that I organization and the €Xempt status of Federal inrnme tax purposes have not changed during preceding 12 months with a ba'al medakdek (or a have allowed them to be published 10. A. Total No. Copies Printed (Net Press Run). Average "nudge"), while they miss an op­ in The Jewish Observer-all of this No. rnpies Each Issue D11nng Precedmg 12 Months, 15.000 Actual Number of ropie~ of Smg]e Issue Published Nearest portunity to help a borderline psy­ with the constant consultation with to filing Date, 15,000. B. Paid Circulation J_ Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors and rnunter sales chotic; ... who deal with Sholom Gedolei Yisroel, and with their en­ avnage no .. copie~ ea,h issue during preceding 12 months, 5,750, actual number of copies of single issue published Bayis problems and get no place couragement and urging. The neare5t. to filing date, 4,700; Z. Mail subscripti0ns. average because they use rational ap­ deciding factor has been the fre­ no. copies each issue dunng preceding JZ months, 8,455, ac­ tual number of (Opie5 of oingle isoue pubiished nearest to proaches and fail to see that they quency with which such problems filing date, 9,Z06. C. Total paid circulation, average no c0pies each issue during preceding lZ months, 14,205; ac­ may be dealing with disturbed peo­ come to our attention, and the need tual no. of rnpie, of single issue published_nearest to filing ple who sound rational (the com­ to alert the public to seek relief in a date, 13,956. D. Free d1stnbut1on (including samples) by m,,iJ, earner or other means; average no., copies each i55ue pulsive' s favorite intellec­ broader fashion. The many positive during_ preceding 1Z months, 500, actual n0 .. of co.pies of Single issue nearest to filmg date. 500. L Total distribution tualization); or anyone, for that letters, calls, and personal com­ {Sum of C and DJ: average no. copies each issue during pre,ed1ng 12 months, 14,705; actual no., of copies of single matter, who wants to be of help to munications received by the editor issue published nearest to filing date, 14.456_ F.1. Office others. and by myself have vindicated this use, left-over. unaccounted, spoiled after printing: avnage no. (Opies each issue during preceding 12 months. 295; a'­ One may also hope that some decision. Torah, as I have pointed tual number of copies of single issues published neorest to filing date, 504. F.2_ Returns from news agents: O;O. G. "normal," if anxious, individuals out, does not shrink from discuss­ Total (Sum of E and F): average no, c0pies each issue during will pause and ponder their ing most delicate matters and, cer­ preceding 12 m0nths. 15,000; actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 15,000 motivations in hassling their loved tainly, our people should not fear to l certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. ones or generating undue anxiety in be confronted with an honest self­ Rabbi Nis5on Wolpin, Editor the context of Mitzvah observance. evaluation. Th~ Jewish Observer

The Jewish Observer I December 1978 41 Editorial Response: public debate on any moot question An issue is often discussed and is welcome, in that it can serve to ITH debated before it is submitted to the clarify the pertinent issues and to LETTERS CONTINUED Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah for a spotlight various factors that definitive psak. This is especially so otherwise may not be recognized or in a dynamic situation such as the fully appreciated. Crystalizing one debated by Dr. Fryshman and issues is of value even if the Is JO the Forum For "Vote for Mr. Lewin where a number of fac­ Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah will Hesh" Symposium? tors are at work in varying degrees eventually decide on the matter, for -at times at cross purposes. It is the expertise of laymen who are ex­ To the Editor: worth bearing in mind, however, perienced and knowledgable in rele­ I found the symposium in your that political situations in various vant fields can surely contribute as Elul Issue on "Voting for 'Hesh' " parts of the country are not iden­ resource material to be used by most interesting. Each writer made a tical to each other. It may thus be Torah leaders in their decision­ good case for his position while un­ unreasonable to expect our Torah making process. derscoring the weaknesses of the leadership to render a sweeping The Jewish Observer, then, opposing viewpoint. Both, judgment with broad applications offers what we deem to be an ideal however, appear to agree that the on the topic of "Shtadlonim vs forum for an exchange of opinions proposals under discussion are not elected officials." Rather each situa­ of this sort, leading to a clarification merely theoretical abstractions, but tion should be judged independent­ of issues that can be useful even in rather ideas with possible far­ ly. The exchange in the JO, then, the eventuality that the matter will reaching implications for the future may well be a very meaningful one, be brought before the Moetzes of Orthodox Jewry in the US. beyond the realm of the theoretical. Gedo lei Hatorah for their judgment. Thus, Dr. Fryshman would have Putting this particular issue aside, N.W. us refrain from supporting Orthodox candidates in many in­ stances, so as to avoid the potential Poem dangers involved. Instead, the Gedo lei Yisroel would channel their On the Roman Bath-house Uncovered at Emmaus efforts through specially chosen Shtadlonim. Mr. Lewin, on the after having overtaken the defenders on the Jordanian plains other hand, suggests that we active­ and with all the lust for battle now exuded from their veins ly encourage qualified Orthodox General Thadeus and Antoninus representatives to seek public elected office,much as the Agudah chatted wryly on did in pre-war Poland. a Byzantine patio After considering these opposing about the offensive to come viewpoints, I am left wondering about an even more basic question, and of how it wouldn't be long now which I pose here: ls The Jewish Observer really the proper forum until the Jews would be pushed all the way back for the open debate of questions into the sea with such significant, practical out of which they came. ramifications? Shouldn't such And that problems first be considered and would hopefully mark the demise decided upon by our Gedolei of their hideously persistent claim Yisroel with their final psak being publicized, if and when this should to decency, be found appropriate? In short, and talk about one G-d .. , what role can The Jewish Observer play in the ultimate decision process as well as of their uncanny presence for questions of this type? in this dry and misbegotten I hope you can oblige me with a clarification of The Jewish part of the world, Observer's editorial position on such matters. Avraham-Yes hay a Rot bard MOSHE RAPPAPORT Jerusalem 5739 Zurich, Switzerland

42 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 ORTHODOX JEWRY FACES NEW CHALLENGES AGUDATH ISRAEL CONVENTION HEARS

Rabbi Feinstein Addressing: Agudath Israel Convention Keynote Session Among the distinguished heads of Torah institutions and Orthodox leaders r.uho graced tl1e dais at t!-u: 5<-

The Jewish Observer I Der:em/Jer 1978 43 Rabbi B. M. Ezrachi, dean of the Yeshiva Beis Medrash Yeshurun in Manhattan's Preserving The Sense of "Golus" Ateres Yisroel in Jerusalem, underscored the \·\lashington Heights) asked, ··t'iave we Meeting the challenges of preserving importance of presenting the per haps lost our best by becoming moderate authentic Jewish values in America's open with a full-bodied, uncompromising Juda­ to an extreme, forsaking our legacy of un­ society was analyzed in Friday's plenary ses­ ism. "The prospective Baal Teshuva is ready compromising vigilance? Or are our critics sion. Addressing the theme "Experiencing to undergo a radical change and is not in­ too wrapped up in themselves, and their own Golus Amidst Freedom-ls lt Possible?" terested in short-cuts or apologies. He wants spiritual growth \Q concern thentselves with Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg of the Ner Israel to drink deeply from Torah well-springs," the global concerns of Kial Yisroel? The Yeshiva {Baltimore), said that for the Jew answer is somewhere between,·· Rabbi "feeling the Golus is not an obstacle to over­ Perlow suggeHed, "because what some label come, but rather a basic principle of faith to as 'too moderate' is not an abandonment of be maintained, as evidenced in his ever­ ideology, but a realistic responsr to a crying burning conviction that the Moshiach will need for an achievement-oriented program. soon be with us to reorder our priorities and At the same time, dealing with the estrange­ restructure our lives. Thus the Jew must ment of so many people fron1 our fold is not accept that until the Geulah, he is destined to a time for diluting our ideology. Our belief always be a stranger." must be as clear and as uncompromising as ever.

Rabbi Akiva Schlesinger, rabbi of Strasbourg, France, who has influenced hun­ dreds of university students to embrace Judaism, pointed to thE' unique European T eshuva experience, where the members of the academe are engaged in an intellectual search. "We must meet them on their terms and be prepared to prove the existence of Rabbi Weinberg G-d to them, demonstrating through logic }1is demands from us.''

Agudath Israel: Adrift or On Course? tlabbi Bulman In a highly unusual exercise in candid self­ Well-known scholar and author, Rabbi examination, one stormy session focused on Nachman Bulman, dean of the Yeshiva Ohr the course Agudath Israel has pursued since Someach in Jerusalem, said that "hurling its founding conference in Kattowitz, criticism at a dynamic movement from the Poland, sixty-seven years ago: "Is Agudath sidelines is an easy sport, but involvement in Israel True to Its Ideals?" its many programs tempers one's judgment. Rabbi Meir Fulda introduced the topic, What is called for is a freshness that shows II pointing to the built-in allowances Agudath that while chiddush-innovation in ritual Rabbi Twerski Israel has always had in addressing problems matters-is forbidden, hischadshus-renewal in an ever-changing world from an unchang­ of efforts and constant reassessment of goals On the same topic, Professor Aaron ing Tor ah perspective: "While the source of -are our obligation." Twersky of Hofstra University Law School our values is consistent, the emphasis of our pointed to the difficulties that Jews face "in work must change." attempting to preserve our otherness in a society that for all practical purposes welcomes us with open arms. How do we manage to respond to our special calling of ~L being members of a priestly kingdom when we can derive so much 'spiritual' gratifica­ tion from our professional endeavors, and experience so much materialistic pleasure in our affluent pursuit of happiness? This is not a topic for one morning's discussion," Veteran Agudah leader, Shlomo the law dean concluded. "It is the agenda for Klagsbald, president of the Orthodox Jewish a lifetime." {The discourses delivered at the Community of Antwerp, which is the largest convention are featured in essay form in this Jewish com1nunity in Europe, pointed to the issue of JO.) Rabbi Perlow Antwerp experience as part of Agudath The session was chaired by Rabbi Opening the dis:::ussion with a painful Israel's effectiveness: "Wherea5 world-wide, Mordechai Shapiro (Miami Beach) who recounting of some of the harshest 90% of the Jewish children do not receive a recounted a number of anecdotes dealing ideological criticism to which Aguddth Israel Jewish education, the reverse is true in with how great Torah personalities had is being subjected, Rabbi Yaakov Perlow Antwerp, as a result of Agudath Israel in­ endeavored to preserve their sen~e of being fl'.1ovominsker R~:bbe and Rosh Yeshiva of itiatives." in Golus in various historic contexts.

44 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 Rabbi . Rosh DevelopinR Responsibility For Kial offensive 'Their policies may ~ound Yeshiva of Nrr lsrae!. who was present at the l\s an ~'pik1gul' of sorts to the conVE'ntion. altruistic, but thE'ir motivE's are totally selfish. convention. was schedulPd to deliver an ad· Sund;iy 1norning's symposium dealt with the \tVe can rl'ly on no one, but on our Heavenly drf'ss on Shahbos morning, but unfort11nate­ importance of nurturing a sense of respon" Father,"' the Rosh Yeshiva warned, drawing !y was unab!e to because of ill lH:a!th and sibility for the commlinitv's nePds on thp from an elaboration on a theme by Rabbi flew back to Baltimore for medical attention part of adults and vouth.' Rabbi Yitzchok of Kelm on the following day His message was Kerzner (Toronto) callE'd for a rl'turn to the Rabbi Gedalya Schorr {Mesifta Torah delivered by his son~in-law. Rabbi Yaakov kehi/la structure of old that channel0d Vodaath), spoke on the unique spiritual gifts Weinberg, stressing the importance of unit­ cr('ative efforts in constructive ways. Rabbi of the Shahbos. Rabbi Chaim Schmelzer of ing one's many efforts under one n1aster Joshua Fishman, a director of Tc.rah Telshe-Chirago wa~ chairman of the Friday plan, with the guidance of Torah authorities. Umesorah, defTied the lack of economic com­ pensation and social recognition afforded "NEW AGENDAS" those on the very front-line of community AND ISRAEL REPORT SE'rvice-the teachers of our children in In his keynote address, Rabbi Moshe yeshivos and day schools. "We must also do Sherer, executive president of Agudath Israel our utmost to promote the establishment of of America, stated that Orthodoxy's "new kolle/im (institutes of advanced Talmudic strength and power in1poses upon it new study) until there is one in eV('ry communitv, setting higher standards of Torah scholar­ cha!knges to meet the new agenda~ of the ship and Jewish living,'· Rabbi Fishman said. times." He urged Agudath Israel to "'fill the gap within the coalition of Orthodox Jewish forces it had forged by building bridges to night session. Rabbi (Bais the Sefardic Jews of the Unilf>d State~ " He Medrash Govoha, Lakewood) spoke at also called for "priority status" for the Sho/o,,/1 Seudos on the obligation to berome religious absorption of Russian Jewish im­ part of a cominuna! effort rather than work migrants in this country, which he labeled a in isolation. He a!so called for an intensifica­ "national disgrace." dnd for more intensive tion of Torah study on all levE'ls, calling for and positive involvement by individual the convening by Agudath Israli'l of Yarchei Orthodox Jews in directing thr current Kallah--Torah retreats for laymen-during Teshuva movement towards suhstantive vacation periods. At the same se1Ada Rabbi Torah study groups. Simcha Wasserman () traced the Rabbi Fishman Rabbi Kirzner methodology of reach-out programs to a text The session, which was chaired by Yonah in Ram barn ('Xplaining it to refE'r to study of Blumenfrucht. a young Agudah activist, Bereis/1is and ethical texts such as Pirkei concluded with questions from the floor ad­ Avos as the only means of winning uncom~ dressed to a panel that included Rabbi Joshua milted souls in a lasting manner. Silbermintz (national director of Pirche! Agudath lsrael, the Agudah youth division), Rabbi Nisson Wolpin (editor of The Jewish Observer), Yosef Chaim Golding (director of JEP, the Agudah reach-out effort), and Rabbi Dovid Pitterman (director Zeirei Agudath Israel-the Agudah movement for senior youth).

Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz, Agudath Israel ADDRESSES BY TORAH representative in the Israeli Knesset, ex­ LEADERS pounded at the keynote session on the While the convention discussions were Rabbi Moshe Horowitz, the Bostoner philosophical basis of the Agudah move­ enlightening and exhilarating, the special at­ Rebbe (Brooklyn), spoke at the keynote ses­ mf'nL He explained how each individual as mosphere of an Agudath Israel gathering can sion on Saturday night about the crucial role we!! as ;>very communal spokesman must be attributed to the c€'ntral role in the of Agudath Israel in presli'rving the sanctity sePk Torah guidance in setting policy and proceedings assumed by the great Torah of the Jewish nation, unaffected by the cor­ determining methods of achieving goals scholars of our generation. Especially on rosivt> influence of society at large. He cited During a fit>ry question-and-answer period Slu1bbos, when the focus shifts to the more the special sensitivity of the matriarch Sarah on the following day, Rabbi Lorincz contemplative, the discourses by Roshei to Yishmae!'s negative influen'ce as a responded to a number of queries regarding Yeshiva raised the levels of the tefi//os and prototype of the Augdath lsrael"s protective specific decisions, such as those dealing with seudos. role. The keynote session was chaired by the Camp David agreements, and the recent Following Kabholas Shahbos, Rabbi Rabbi Pinchas Teitz of E!iz.abeth, NJ, who municipal elt>ctions in Israel, as well general­ Boruch Sorotzkin, Rosh Yeshiva of Tel~he­ pointed out how "'Katowitz" today has no ly understanding tht> workings of the Wickliffe, Ohio, called for a reaffirmation of great significance othE'r than as the starting Mot>tzes Gedo!ei Ha Torah (Council of Torah our reliance on Divine guidance, rather than place of the Agudath Israel world movemenC Sages) in Israel. Rabbi Lorincz said that "a on the good will of the various nations thus the use of the term testifies to the changPd atmosphere of good will towards currently engaged in th€' Mideast peace movement'~ loyalty to its principles.

The Jewish Observer/ December 1978 45 "Point of Order, Mr. Chairman!"

Rabbi Joseph Elias

iii. Chaim Amsel (Monsey) Daniel Retter (Miami Beach) Shlomo Grunbaum

46 The Jewish Observer I December 1978 Orthodoxy in Israeli society gives new hope Shlomo Oppenheimer served as chairman for religious interests in the Holy Land." He of the Convention with David Basch (Mon­ also said that Agudath Israel leaders in Israel, treal) as co-chairman. Rabbi Chaim Amsel although skeptical of Arab sincerity, were (Monsey, N.Y.) was convention coordinator. unanimous that "peace ought to be given a Concurrent with the Agudath Israel con­ chance even if it involved risks." He revealed vention, Zeirei Agudath Israel and N'shei that Prime Minister Begin had solicited and Agudath Israel (the Agudah Women's move­ received counsel from leading Torah scholars ment) also held stimulating sessions dealing and that the Israeli leader "was moved by with their own programs. The Zeirei sessions their views." included" Agudath Israel on the Firing Line" Other guests from Israel who addressed -with Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz. and a shiur At the Convention: the convention included Rabbi Shraga and shmues, by Rabbi B. M. Ezrachi, as well Rabbi Reuvain Feinstein (Mesivta of Staten Grossbard, director general of Chinuch Atz­ as several workshops. The Nshei sessions Island), Mr. Joseph F"riedenson (editor, Dos mai (Torah Schools for Israel) and Rabbi featured addresses by Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz, Yiddishe Vort), Rabbi (Mir, Osher Neuhaus (Kiryat Chassidit of Chatzor Rabbi Reuven Feinstein, Rabbi Avrohom Agudath Israel of Boro Park-18 Ave.), Rab­ Haglili). Chaim Feuer (Telshe-Wickliffe), Rebbetzin bi Aaron Zuckernian (Agudath Israel of Midwood). OTHER FEATURES B. Sorotzkin, and Rebbet7jn M. Munk. Every day at the convention began with a communal study of Oaf Yomi, the unique folio-a-day Talmud study program, led by a different visiting scholar at each session. The Me!ave Malke was marked by the Avodas Hakodesh Awards for outstanding community service which were presented by Rabbi Shmuel Bloom on behalf of Agudath Israel to: Yosef Davis (Chicago), Herman Landau (Toronto), David J. Lipins (Cleveland), Daniel Retter (Miami Beach) and Dr. Albert Schild (Philadelphia). The Shabbos tefillos as well as the Melave Malke were enhanced by stirring renditions by the well-known composer and singer Rabbi Benzion Shenker. On Saturday night he was accompanied by the Neginah Orchestra as he introduced a new composi­ tion to the gathering. Other participants in the convention program included Rabbi Chaskel Besser, Rabbi Avrohom Horowitz, Dr. Isaac Lewin­ who gave greetings in behalf of the World Agudah Movement, and David H. Turkel. The Convention received with enthusiasm the announcement made in the address by Dr. Isaac Lewin, Chairman of the American Section of Agudath Israel World Organiza­ At the Keynote Session~ Rabbi Rabbi Akiva Ehrenfeld, Rabbi Akiva tion, that the 6th Knessiah Gedolah (World Sitncha Shusta/ (Rosh Yeshiva, Stamford), Shlesinger, Rabbi Zvi Abramowitz (Chat­ Conference) of the movement will take place zor). in Jerusalem if! January, 1980.

Avodas Hakodesh Awardees: Yosef Davis (Chicago), Herman Landau (Toronto), David ]. Lipins (Cleveland), Daniel Retter (Miami Beach), Dr. Albert Schild (Philadelphia).

The Jewish Observer I December 1978 47 ~e !!lli43£e/'.J ~ ~e /eaa•3A ae,,()1e/' a/'e,ftka.Jed le t~/'m/oa da! a .Jtttfdc/'f'Ilio/t Aa.J ken enle/'ed

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